World Allergy Week 2024: Allergies are a health concern in both developed and developing countries. Environmental factors and host factors contribute to allergies in people. Host factors such as race, genetics, age, and gender are responsible for triggering allergies. Every year, World Allergy Week is observed from June 23 to June 29 so that we can discuss ways to reduce the risk of allergies and boost immunity. Climate change has a significant role in the increasing risk of allergies across the world. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr P Venkata Krishnan, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine at Artemis Hospital Gurugram, said, “Climate change is a significant environmental challenge that has a wide impact on health, including the prevalence and severity of allergies. Understanding the relationship between climate change and allergies is essential to manage and reduce its impact on public health.”
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Dr. Sunita Chhapola Shukla, Founder and Director, Mumbai Allergy Centre and Head, Department of Allergology, Sir HN Reliance Hospital, added, “Allergic diseases are on the rise in India due to factors such as industrialisation, urbanisation and lifestyle changes. Pollution is linked to allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, allergic conjunctivitis and allergic skin diseases. Pollutants cause oxidative stress, leading to inflammation and hyper-reactivity in the airways, leading to sneezing, runny nose, coughing, wheezing and watery eyes.”
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Climate change and allergies: How are they connected?
Longer and more intense pollen seasons:
The most direct effect of climate change on allergies is the extension and intensity of the pollen season. Rising global temperatures and increased carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels cause the growing season for plants to become longer, resulting in a longer period of pollen production. Higher CO₂ levels also trigger plants to produce more pollen, which triggers allergic reactions in people.
Increased pollen efficiency:
Climate change lengthens the pollen season and increases the potency of pollen. Increased CO2 levels can increase the allergenicity of pollen grains, meaning they contain higher concentrations of proteins that trigger allergic reactions. This makes pollen more potent and can cause more severe symptoms in people with respiratory allergies, such as allergic rhinitis and asthma.
Changes in allergen distribution:
Climate change also affects the geographical distribution of allergy-causing plants. Warmer temperatures enable some plants to grow in new areas where they could not thrive before. This means that people who have not previously been exposed to specific allergens may start to have allergic reactions.
Effects on indoor allergens:
Climate change affects indoor allergies. Increased humidity and warmer temperatures create favorable conditions for the growth of mold and dust mites that are common indoor allergens. More intense and frequent storms and flooding caused by climate change can cause water damage to homes, further promoting mold growth. These conditions can exacerbate symptoms for people with indoor allergies and asthma.
