Impact of weather and climate change with indoor and outdoor air quality in asthma: A Work Group Report of the AAAAI Environmental Exposure and Respiratory Health Committee

Jill A. Poole, Charles S. Barnes, Jeffrey G. Demain, Jonathan A. Bernstein, Mahesh A. Padukudru, William J. Sheehan, Guillermo Guidos Fogelbach, James Wedner, Rosa Codina, Estelle Levetin, John R. Cohn, Steve Kagen, Jay M. Portnoy, Andre E. Nel

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

108 Scopus citations

Abstract

Weather and climate change are constant and ever-changing processes that affect allergy and asthma. The purpose of this report is to provide information since the last climate change review with a focus on asthmatic disease. PubMed and Internet searches for topics included climate and weather change, air pollution, particulates, greenhouse gasses, traffic, insect habitat, and mitigation in addition to references contributed by the individual authors. Changes in patterns of outdoor aeroallergens caused by increasing temperatures and amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are major factors linked to increased duration of pollen seasons, increased pollen production, and possibly increased allergenicity of pollen. Indoor air pollution threats anticipated from climate changes include microbial and mold growth secondary to flooding, resulting in displacement of persons and need for respiratory protection of exposed workers. Air pollution from indoor burning of mosquito repellants is a potential anticipatory result of an increase in habitat regions. Air pollution from fossil fuel burning and traffic-related emissions can alter respiratory defense mechanisms and work synergistically with specific allergens to enhance immunogenicity to worsen asthma in susceptible subjects. Community efforts can significantly reduce air pollution, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emission and improving air quality. The allergist's approach to weather pattern changes should be integrated and anticipatory to protect at-risk patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1702-1710
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume143
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2019

Keywords

  • Weather
  • allergy
  • asthma
  • climate
  • pollen
  • pollution

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Impact of weather and climate change with indoor and outdoor air quality in asthma: A Work Group Report of the AAAAI Environmental Exposure and Respiratory Health Committee'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this