1
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Laforest M, Martin SL, Bisaillon K, Soufiane B, Meloche S, Tardif FJ, Page E. The ancestral karyotype of the Heliantheae Alliance, herbicide resistance, and human allergens: Insights from the genomes of common and giant ragweed. THE PLANT GENOME 2024; 17:e20442. [PMID: 38481294 DOI: 10.1002/tpg2.20442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Ambrosia trifida (Asteraceae) are important pest species and the two greatest sources of aeroallergens globally. Here, we took advantage of a hybrid to simplify genome assembly and present chromosome-level assemblies for both species. These assemblies show high levels of completeness with Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Ortholog (BUSCO) scores of 94.5% for A. artemisiifolia and 96.1% for A. trifida and long terminal repeat (LTR) Assembly Index values of 26.6 and 23.6, respectively. The genomes were annotated using RNA data identifying 41,642 genes in A. artemisiifolia and 50,203 in A. trifida. More than half of the genome is composed of repetitive elements, with 62% in A. artemisiifolia and 69% in A. trifida. Single copies of herbicide resistance-associated genes PPX2L, HPPD, and ALS were found, while two copies of the EPSPS gene were identified; this latter observation may reveal a possible mechanism of resistance to the herbicide glyphosate. Ten of the 12 main allergenicity genes were also localized, some forming clusters with several copies, especially in A. artemisiifolia. The evolution of genome structure has differed among these two species. The genome of A. trifida has undergone greater rearrangement, possibly the result of chromoplexy. In contrast, the genome of A. artemisiifolia retains a structure that makes the allotetraploidization of the most recent common ancestor of the Heliantheae Alliance the clearest feature of its genome. When compared to other Heliantheae Alliance species, this allowed us to reconstruct the common ancestor's karyotype-a key step for furthering of our understanding of the evolution and diversification of this economically and allergenically important group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Laforest
- Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sara L Martin
- Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Katherine Bisaillon
- Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada
| | - Brahim Soufiane
- Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sydney Meloche
- Harrow Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Harrow, Ontario, Canada
| | - François J Tardif
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Eric Page
- Harrow Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Harrow, Ontario, Canada
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2
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Venkatesan S, Zare A, Stevanovic S. Pollen and sub-pollen particles: External interactions shaping the allergic potential of pollen. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:171593. [PMID: 38479525 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Pollen allergies, such as allergic rhinitis, are triggered by exposure to airborne pollen. They are a considerable global health burden, with their numbers expected to rise in the coming decades due to the advent of climate change and air pollution. The relationships that exist between pollens, meteorological, and environmental conditions are complex due to a lack of clarity on the nature and conditions associated with these interactions; therefore, it is challenging to describe their direct impacts on allergenic potential clearly. This article attempts to review evidence pertaining to the possible influence of meteorological factors and air pollutants on the allergic potential of pollen by studying the interactions that pollen undergoes, from its inception to atmospheric traversal to human exposure. This study classifies the evidence based on the nature of these interactions as physical, chemical, source, and biological, thereby simplifying the complexities in describing these interactions. Physical conditions facilitating pollen rupturing for tree, grass, and weed pollen, along with their mechanisms, are studied. The effects of pollen exposure to air pollutants and their impact on pollen allergenic potential are presented along with the possible outcomes following these interactions, such as pollen fragmentation (SPP generation), deposition of particulate matter on pollen exine, and modification of protein levels in-situ of pollen. This study also delves into evidence on plant-based (source and biological) interactions, which could indirectly influence the allergic potential of pollen. The current state of knowledge, open questions, and a brief overview of future research directions are outlined and discussed. We suggest that future studies should utilise a multi-disciplinary approach to better understand this complex system of pollen interactions that occur in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ali Zare
- School of Engineering, Deakin University, VIC 3216, Australia
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3
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Kim BE, Hui-Beckman JW, Nevid MZ, Goleva E, Leung DYM. Air pollutants contribute to epithelial barrier dysfunction and allergic diseases. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2024; 132:433-439. [PMID: 38006973 DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2023.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution is a global problem associated with various health conditions, causing elevated rates of morbidity and mortality. Major sources of air pollutants include industrial emissions, traffic-related pollutants, and household biomass combustion, in addition to indoor pollutants from chemicals and tobacco. Various types of air pollutants originate from both human activities and natural sources. These include particulate matter, pollen, greenhouse gases, and other harmful gases. Air pollution is linked to allergic diseases, including atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, food allergy, and bronchial asthma. These pollutants lead to epithelial barrier dysfunction, dysbiosis, and immune dysregulation. In addition, climate change and global warming may contribute to the exacerbation and the development of allergic diseases related to air pollutants. Epigenetic changes associated with air pollutants have also been connected to the onset of allergic diseases. Furthermore, these changes can be passed down through subsequent generations, causing a higher prevalence of allergic diseases in offspring. Modulation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor could be a valuable strategy for alleviating air pollutant-induced epidermal barrier dysfunction and atopic dermatitis. A more effective approach to preventing allergic diseases triggered by air pollutants is to reduce exposure to them. Implementing public policies aimed at safeguarding individuals from air pollutant exposure may prove to be the most efficient solution. A pressing need exists for global policy initiatives that prioritize efforts to reduce the production of air pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byung Eui Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado
| | | | | | - Elena Goleva
- Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado
| | - Donald Y M Leung
- Department of Pediatrics, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado.
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4
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Grewling Ł, Ribeiro H, Antunes C, Apangu GP, Çelenk S, Costa A, Eguiluz-Gracia I, Galveias A, Gonzalez Roldan N, Lika M, Magyar D, Martinez-Bracero M, Ørby P, O'Connor D, Penha AM, Pereira S, Pérez-Badia R, Rodinkova V, Xhetani M, Šauliene I, Skjøth CA. Outdoor airborne allergens: Characterization, behavior and monitoring in Europe. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167042. [PMID: 37709071 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Aeroallergens or inhalant allergens, are proteins dispersed through the air and have the potential to induce allergic conditions such as rhinitis, conjunctivitis, and asthma. Outdoor aeroallergens are found predominantly in pollen grains and fungal spores, which are allergen carriers. Aeroallergens from pollen and fungi have seasonal emission patterns that correlate with plant pollination and fungal sporulation and are strongly associated with atmospheric weather conditions. They are released when allergen carriers come in contact with the respiratory system, e.g. the nasal mucosa. In addition, due to the rupture of allergen carriers, airborne allergen molecules may be released directly into the air in the form of micronic and submicronic particles (cytoplasmic debris, cell wall fragments, droplets etc.) or adhered onto other airborne particulate matter. Therefore, aeroallergen detection strategies must consider, in addition to the allergen carriers, the allergen molecules themselves. This review article aims to present the current knowledge on inhalant allergens in the outdoor environment, their structure, localization, and factors affecting their production, transformation, release or degradation. In addition, methods for collecting and quantifying aeroallergens are listed and thoroughly discussed. Finally, the knowledge gaps, challenges and implications associated with aeroallergen analysis are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Grewling
- Laboratory of Aerobiology, Department of Systematic and Environmental Botany, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Helena Ribeiro
- Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings of the Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto and Earth Sciences Institute (ICT), Portugal
| | - Celia Antunes
- Department of Medical and Health Sciences, School of Health and Human Development & ICT-Institute of Earth Sciences, IIFA, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
| | | | - Sevcan Çelenk
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Bursa Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Ana Costa
- Department of Medical and Health Sciences, School of Health and Human Development & ICT-Institute of Earth Sciences, IIFA, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
| | - Ibon Eguiluz-Gracia
- Allergy Unit, Hospital Regional Universitario de Malaga, Malaga 29010, Spain
| | - Ana Galveias
- Department of Medical and Health Sciences, School of Health and Human Development & ICT-Institute of Earth Sciences, IIFA, University of Évora, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
| | - Nestor Gonzalez Roldan
- Group of Biofunctional Metabolites and Structures, Priority Research Area Chronic Lung Diseases, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Borstel, Germany; Pollen Laboratory, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mirela Lika
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania
| | - Donát Magyar
- National Center for Public Health and Pharmacy, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Pia Ørby
- Department of Environmental Science, Danish Big Data Centre for Environment and Health (BERTHA) Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - David O'Connor
- School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin D09 E432, Ireland
| | - Alexandra Marchã Penha
- Water Laboratory, School of Sciences and Technology, ICT-Institute of Earth Sciences, IIFA, University of Évora. 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
| | - Sónia Pereira
- Department of Geosciences, Environment and Spatial Plannings of the Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto and Earth Sciences Institute (ICT), Portugal
| | - Rosa Pérez-Badia
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Castilla-La Mancha, 45071 Toledo, Spain
| | | | - Merita Xhetani
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania
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5
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Makra L, Matyasovszky I, Tusnády G, Ziska LH, Hess JJ, Nyúl LG, Chapman DS, Coviello L, Gobbi A, Jurman G, Furlanello C, Brunato M, Damialis A, Charalampopoulos A, Müller-Schärer H, Schneider N, Szabó B, Sümeghy Z, Páldy A, Magyar D, Bergmann KC, Deák ÁJ, Mikó E, Thibaudon M, Oliver G, Albertini R, Bonini M, Šikoparija B, Radišić P, Josipović MM, Gehrig R, Severova E, Shalaboda V, Stjepanović B, Ianovici N, Berger U, Seliger AK, Rybníček O, Myszkowska D, Dąbrowska-Zapart K, Majkowska-Wojciechowska B, Weryszko-Chmielewska E, Grewling Ł, Rapiejko P, Malkiewicz M, Šaulienė I, Prykhodo O, Maleeva A, Rodinkova V, Palamarchuk O, Ščevková J, Bullock JM. A temporally and spatially explicit, data-driven estimation of airborne ragweed pollen concentrations across Europe. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 905:167095. [PMID: 37748607 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Ongoing and future climate change driven expansion of aeroallergen-producing plant species comprise a major human health problem across Europe and elsewhere. There is an urgent need to produce accurate, temporally dynamic maps at the continental level, especially in the context of climate uncertainty. This study aimed to restore missing daily ragweed pollen data sets for Europe, to produce phenological maps of ragweed pollen, resulting in the most complete and detailed high-resolution ragweed pollen concentration maps to date. To achieve this, we have developed two statistical procedures, a Gaussian method (GM) and deep learning (DL) for restoring missing daily ragweed pollen data sets, based on the plant's reproductive and growth (phenological, pollen production and frost-related) characteristics. DL model performances were consistently better for estimating seasonal pollen integrals than those of the GM approach. These are the first published modelled maps using altitude correction and flowering phenology to recover missing pollen information. We created a web page (http://euragweedpollen.gmf.u-szeged.hu/), including daily ragweed pollen concentration data sets of the stations examined and their restored daily data, allowing one to upload newly measured or recovered daily data. Generation of these maps provides a means to track pollen impacts in the context of climatic shifts, identify geographical regions with high pollen exposure, determine areas of future vulnerability, apply spatially-explicit mitigation measures and prioritize management interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- László Makra
- Institute of Economics and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Szeged, 6800 Hódmezővásárhely, Andrássy út 15, Hungary.
| | - István Matyasovszky
- Department of Meteorology, Eötvös Loránd University, 1518 Budapest, P.O.B. 32, Hungary.
| | - Gábor Tusnády
- Alfréd Rényi Institute of Mathematics, 1364 Budapest, P.O.B 127, Hungary.
| | - Lewis H Ziska
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - Jeremy J Hess
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
| | - László G Nyúl
- Department of Image Processing and Computer Graphics, University of Szeged, 6701 Szeged, P.O.B. 652, Hungary.
| | - Daniel S Chapman
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK.
| | - Luca Coviello
- University of Trento and Enogis s.r.l., Trento, Italy.
| | | | | | | | - Mauro Brunato
- Department of Information Engineering and Computer Science, University of Trento, Trento, Italy.
| | - Athanasios Damialis
- Terrestrial Ecology and Climate Change, Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Athanasios Charalampopoulos
- Terrestrial Ecology and Climate Change, Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Heinz Müller-Schärer
- Departement of Biology, Unit of Ecology and Evolution, University of Fribourg, CH-1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.
| | - Norbert Schneider
- Institute of Economics and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Szeged, 6800 Hódmezővásárhely, Andrássy út 15, Hungary
| | - Bence Szabó
- Institute of Economics and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Szeged, 6800 Hódmezővásárhely, Andrássy út 15, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Sümeghy
- Institute of Economics and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Szeged, 6800 Hódmezővásárhely, Andrássy út 15, Hungary
| | - Anna Páldy
- National Institute of Environmental Health, 1097 Budapest, Albert Flórián út 2-6, Hungary.
| | - Donát Magyar
- National Institute of Environmental Health, 1097 Budapest, Albert Flórián út 2-6, Hungary
| | | | - Áron József Deák
- Institute of Economics and Rural Development, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Szeged, 6800 Hódmezővásárhely, Andrássy út 15, Hungary.
| | - Edit Mikó
- Institute of Animal Science and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Szeged, 6800 Hódmezővásárhely, Andrássy út 15, Hungary.
| | - Michel Thibaudon
- Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique, 11 chemin de la Creuzille, Le Plat du Pin, 696905 Brussieu, France
| | - Gilles Oliver
- Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique, 11 chemin de la Creuzille, Le Plat du Pin, 696905 Brussieu, France.
| | - Roberto Albertini
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Aerobiology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, U.O. Medicina Interna di Continuità, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
| | - Maira Bonini
- Department of Hygiene and Health Prevention, ATS (Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan), Hygiene and Public Health Service, via Spagliardi 19, Parabiago, 20015 Milan, Italy.
| | - Branko Šikoparija
- BioSensе Institute - Research Institute for Information Technologies in Biosystems, University of Novi Sad, Dr. Zorana Đinđića 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
| | - Predrag Radišić
- BioSensе Institute - Research Institute for Information Technologies in Biosystems, University of Novi Sad, Dr. Zorana Đinđića 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Mirjana Mitrović Josipović
- Ministry of Environmental Protection, Environmental Protection Agency, 11000 Belgrade, Ruže Jovanoviüa 27a, Serbia.
| | - Regula Gehrig
- Federal Department of Home Affairs FDHA, Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss, Operation Center 1, P.O. Box, CH-8058, Zurich-Airport, Switzerland.
| | - Elena Severova
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Biological Faculty, 1-12 Leninskie Gory, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Valentina Shalaboda
- State Institution (Scientific and Practical Center (SPC) of the State Forensic Examination Committee of the Republic of Belarus, Akademicheskaya Str. 27, 220072 Minsk, Belarus
| | - Barbara Stjepanović
- Teaching Institut of Public Health "Dr Andrija Śtampar", 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Nicoleta Ianovici
- West University of Timişoara, Blvd. V. Parvan 4, 300223 Timişoara, Romania.
| | - Uwe Berger
- Department of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, HNO Klinik, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Andreja Kofol Seliger
- National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food, Center for Environment and Health, Department for Air, Noise, Environmental Impact Assessment and Aerobiology, Grablovičeva ulica 44, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Ondřej Rybníček
- Pediatric Department, University Hospital and Masaryk University, Brno, Jihlavská 20, 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Dorota Myszkowska
- Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Department of Clinical and Environmental Allergology, 31-531 Kraków, ul. Kopernika 15A, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Dąbrowska-Zapart
- Institute of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Bedzinska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland.
| | - Barbara Majkowska-Wojciechowska
- Aeroallergen Monitoring Centre "AMoC", Department of Immunology, Rheumatology and Allergy, Medical University of Lodz, Pomorska 251, 92-213 Lodz, Poland.
| | | | - Łukasz Grewling
- Laboratory of Aerobiology, Department of Systematic and Environmental Botany, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland.
| | | | - Malgorzata Malkiewicz
- Department of Palaeobotany, Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Ingrida Šaulienė
- Vilnius University, Siauliai Academy, Vytauto 84, LT-76352, Siauliai, Lithuania.
| | - Olexander Prykhodo
- Department of Medical Biology, Zaporizhia State Medical University, 69035 Zaporizhia, Ukraine
| | - Anna Maleeva
- Department of Medical Biology, Zaporizhia State Medical University, 69035 Zaporizhia, Ukraine
| | - Victoria Rodinkova
- National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsya, 56 Pirogov street, Vinnytsia 21018, Ukraine.
| | - Olena Palamarchuk
- National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsya, 56 Pirogov street, Vinnytsia 21018, Ukraine
| | - Jana Ščevková
- Department of Botany, Comenius University, Šafárikovo námestie 6, 81806 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - James M Bullock
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK.
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Seastedt H, Nadeau K. Factors by which global warming worsens allergic disease. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2023; 131:694-702. [PMID: 37689112 PMCID: PMC10873081 DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2023.08.610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Increased use of fossil fuels has led to global warming with concomitant increases in the severity and frequency of extreme weather events such as wildfires and sand and dust storms. These changes have led to increases in air pollutants such as particulate matter and greenhouse gases. Global warming is also associated with increases in pollen season length and pollen concentration. Particulate matter, greenhouse gases, and pollen synergistically increase the incidence and severity of allergic diseases. Other indirect factors such as droughts, flooding, thunderstorms, heat waves, water pollution, human migration, deforestation, loss of green space, and decreasing biodiversity (including microbial diversity) also affect the incidence and severity of allergic disease. Global warming and extreme weather events are expected to increase in the coming decades, and further increases in allergic diseases are expected, exacerbating the already high health care burden associated with these diseases. There is an urgent need to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change to improve human health. Human health and planetary health are connected and the concept of One Health, which is an integrated, unifying approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and the environment needs to be emphasized. Clinicians are trusted members of the community, and they need to take a strong leadership role in educating patients on climate change and its adverse effects on human health. They also need to advocate for policy changes that decrease the use of fossil fuels and increase biodiversity and green space to enable a healthier and more sustainable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana Seastedt
- Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - Kari Nadeau
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
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7
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Zhao H, Yang Y, Feng C, Wang W, Yang C, Yin Y, Gong L, Lin T. Nonlinear effects of humidex on risk of outpatient visit for allergic conjunctivitis among children and adolescents in Shanghai, China: A time series analysis. J Glob Health 2023; 13:04132. [PMID: 37921044 PMCID: PMC10623378 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.13.04132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Various epidemiological studies have focused on the adverse health outcomes of meteorological factors. However, there has been little research on the impact of humidex on allergic conjunctivitis, especially in child and adolescent populations. We aimed to explore the impact of humidex, a comprehensive index of relative humidity and temperature, on child and adolescent allergic conjunctivitis admissions. Methods Outpatient visit data for allergic conjunctivitis, meteorological factors and air pollutants in Shanghai for the 2017-2022 period were retrieved. For the purpose of analysing the nonlinear connection and lag impact between humidex and admissions for paediatric and adolescent allergic conjunctivitis, the distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was fitted. Results A total of 147 090 cases were included in our cohort. We found a significantly nonlinear effect on humidex and allergic conjunctivitis. In the single-day lag pattern, the relative risks (RR) of allergic conjunctivitis were significant at lag 0 (RR = 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05-1.11) to lag 2 (RR = 1.01, 95% CI = 1.00-1.01), lag 5 (RR = 1.01, 95% CI = 1.00-1.01) to lag 9 (RR = 1.01, 95% CI = 1.00-1.01), and lag 14 (RR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01-1.03). In the cumulative-lag day pattern, the RR of allergic conjunctivitis were significant at lag 0-0 (RR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.05-1.11) to lag 0-14 (RR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.13-1.28). We found that boys, children aged 7-17 years, and children in the warm season were more vulnerable to humidex. In addition, the highest attributable fraction (AF) and attributable number (AN) of humidex are at lag 0-14 (AF = 0.17, AN = 25 026). Conclusions Humidex exposure markedly increased the risk of allergic conjunctivitis, especially in highly high humidex. Appropriate public health management is needed for disease management and early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Disease, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Myopia, NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yun Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Myopia, NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Changming Feng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Myopia, NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Wushuang Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Myopia, NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenhao Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Yin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Myopia, NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Lan Gong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Myopia, NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Tong Lin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Laboratory of Myopia, NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China
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8
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Luo W, Li Y, Xu L, Yu Y, Ma J, Wang Y, Wang Y, Wu H, Xv M, Wu L, Zhang T, Zheng J, Hao C, Sun B. Pollen allergens sensitization characteristics and risk factors among allergy rhinitis of children in mainland China: A multicenter study. Heliyon 2023; 9:e14914. [PMID: 37064467 PMCID: PMC10102226 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background No comprehensive multicenter study of sensitization patterns among patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) to various common pollen allergens was available nationwide, and risks factors of pollen-induced allergic rhinitis (PiAR) in mainland China was unclear. This study aimed to fill this gap. Methods A multicenter study was performed on 736 AR patients aged below 18 from four regions of mainland China. Patients completed a standardized questionnaire asking for the environmental risk factors and AR severity, and undertook skin prick tests (SPT) with 14 common pollen allergens. Findings Among the 736 patients, 341 patients (46.33%) suffered at least one positive pollen allergen sensitization. The positive rate of pollen allergens was significantly higher in the high-age group (Damato et al., 2007; Wang et al., 2018; Luo et al., 2016; Demoly et al., 2011; Sampson and Albergo, 1984; Li et al., 2009; Luo et al., 2021; Ziska and Beggs, 2011; Melén et al., 2020; Jensen-Jarolim, 2017; Rönmark et al., 2017; Ge et al., 2017) [6-17] than the low-age group ( ≤ 5), while no significant difference was found between the sexes. The sensitizations to pollen allergens varied widely among four geographical areas. The positive rate was higher in north China and west China than in east China, and south China had the lowest positive rate. The region of residence, ages, ethnic minorities, history of pollen exposure, the material of living room floor and material of pillow were statistically significant risks of PiAR. Interpretation This study provides new insights into the pollen allergens sensitization characteristics in AR and the factors affecting PiAR in mainland China.
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9
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Stawoska I, Myszkowska D, Oliwa J, Skoczowski A, Wesełucha-Birczyńska A, Saja-Garbarz D, Ziemianin M. Air pollution in the places of Betula pendula growth and development changes the physicochemical properties and the main allergen content of its pollen. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0279826. [PMID: 36696393 PMCID: PMC9876359 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Pollen allergy becomes an increasing problem for humans, especially in the regions, where the air pollution level increases due to the traffic and urbanization. These factors may also affect the physiological activity of plants, causing changes in pollen allergenicity. The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of air pollutants on the chemical composition of birch pollen and the secondary structures of the Bet v1 protein. The research was conducted in seven locations in Malopolska region, South of Poland of a different pollution level. We have found slight fluctuations in the values of parameters describing the photosynthetic light reactions, similar spectra of leaf reflectance and the negligible differences in the discrimination values of the δ13C carbon isotope were found. The obtained results show a minor effect of a degree of pollution on the physiological condition B. pendula specimen. On the other hand, mean Bet v1 concentration measured in pollen samples collected in Kraków was significantly higher than in less polluted places (p = .03886), while FT-Raman spectra showed the most distinct variations in the wavenumbers characteristic of proteins. Pollen collected at sites of the increased NOx and PM concentration, show the highest percentage values of potential aggregated forms and antiparallel β-sheets in the expense of α-helix, presenting a substantial impact on chemical compounds of pollen, Bet v1 concentration and on formation of the secondary structure of proteins, what can influence their functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iwona Stawoska
- Institute of Biology, Pedagogical University of Krakow, Kraków, Poland
| | - Dorota Myszkowska
- Department of Clinical and Environmental Allergology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Jakub Oliwa
- Institute of Biology, Pedagogical University of Krakow, Kraków, Poland
| | | | | | - Diana Saja-Garbarz
- The Franciszek Górski Institute of Plant Physiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Monika Ziemianin
- Department of Clinical and Environmental Allergology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
- * E-mail:
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10
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Bernard-Verdier M, Seitz B, Buchholz S, Kowarik I, Lasunción Mejía S, Jeschke JM. Grassland allergenicity increases with urbanisation and plant invasions. AMBIO 2022; 51:2261-2277. [PMID: 35594005 PMCID: PMC9481851 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-022-01741-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Pollen allergies have been on the rise in cities, where anthropogenic disturbances, warmer climate and introduced species are shaping novel urban ecosystems. Yet, the allergenic potential of these urban ecosystems, in particular spontaneous vegetation outside parks and gardens, remains poorly known. We quantified the allergenic properties of 56 dry grasslands along a double gradient of urbanisation and plant invasion in Berlin (Germany). 30% of grassland species were classified as allergenic, most of them being natives. Urbanisation was associated with an increase in abundance and diversity of pollen allergens, mainly driven by an increase in allergenic non-native plants. While not inherently more allergenic than native plants, the pool of non-natives contributed a larger biochemical diversity of allergens and flowered later than natives, creating a broader potential spectrum of allergy. Managing novel risks to urban public health will involve not only targeted action on allergenic non-natives, but also policies at the habitat scale favouring plant community assembly of a diverse, low-allergenicity vegetation. Similar approaches could be easily replicated in other cities to provide a broad quantification and mapping of urban allergy risks and drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maud Bernard-Verdier
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 301, 12587, Berlin, Germany
| | - Birgit Seitz
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Rothenburgstraße 12, 12165 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sascha Buchholz
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Rothenburgstraße 12, 12165 Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, University of Münster, Heisenbergstraße 2, 48149 Munster, Germany
| | - Ingo Kowarik
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Rothenburgstraße 12, 12165 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sara Lasunción Mejía
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jonathan M. Jeschke
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 1-3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Berlin, Germany
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Müggelseedamm 301, 12587, Berlin, Germany
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11
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Zapata-Marin S, Schmidt AM, Weichenthal S, Katz DSW, Takaro T, Brook J, Lavigne E. Within city spatiotemporal variation of pollen concentration in the city of Toronto, Canada. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 206:112566. [PMID: 34922985 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The exacerbation of asthma and respiratory allergies has been associated with exposure to aeroallergens such as pollen. Within an urban area, tree cover, level of urbanization, atmospheric conditions, and the number of source plants can influence spatiotemporal variations in outdoor pollen concentrations. OBJECTIVE We analyze weekly pollen measurements made between March and October 2018 over 17 sites in Toronto, Canada. The main goals are: to estimate the concentration of different types of pollen across the season; estimate the association, if any, between pollen concentration and environmental variables, and provide a spatiotemporal surface of concentration of different types of pollen across the weeks in the studied period. METHODS We propose an extension of the land-use regression model to account for the temporal variation of pollen levels and the high number of measurements equal to zero. Inference is performed under the Bayesian framework, and uncertainty of predicted values is naturally obtained through the posterior predictive distribution. RESULTS Tree pollen was positively associated with commercial areas and tree cover, and negatively associated with grass cover. Both grass and weed pollen were positively associated with industrial areas and TC brightness and negatively associated with the northing coordinate. The total pollen was associated with a combination of these environmental factors. Predicted surfaces of pollen concentration are shown at some sampled weeks for all pollen types. SIGNIFICANCE The predicted surfaces obtained here can help future epidemiological studies to find possible associations between pollen levels and some health outcome like respiratory allergies at different locations within the study area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Zapata-Marin
- Quantitative Life Sciences Program, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Alexandra M Schmidt
- Quantitative Life Sciences Program, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada; Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Scott Weichenthal
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Occupational Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Daniel S W Katz
- Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Tim Takaro
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Brook
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Eric Lavigne
- Air Health Science Division and Population Studies Division, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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12
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Addison-Smith B, Milic A, Dwarakanath D, Simunovic M, Van Haeften S, Timbrell V, Davies JM. Medium-Term Increases in Ambient Grass Pollen Between 1994-1999 and 2016-2020 in a Subtropical Climate Zone. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2022; 2:705313. [PMID: 35387005 PMCID: PMC8974679 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2021.705313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Grass pollen is the major outdoor trigger of allergic respiratory diseases. Climate change is influencing pollen seasonality in Northern Hemisphere temperate regions, but many aspects of the effects on grass pollen remain unclear. Carbon dioxide and temperature rises could increase the distribution of subtropical grasses, however, medium term shifts in grass pollen in subtropical climates have not yet been analysed. This study investigates changes in grass pollen aerobiology in a subtropical city of Brisbane, Australia, between the two available monitoring periods, 1994-1999 and 2016-2020. Potential drivers of pollen change were examined including weather and satellite-derived vegetation indicators. The magnitude of the seasonal pollen index for grass showed almost a three-fold increase for 2016-2020 over 1994-1999. The number and proportion of high and extreme grass pollen days in the recent period increased compared to earlier monitoring. Statistically significant changes were also identified for distributions of CO2, satellite-derived seasonal vegetation health indices, and daily maximum temperatures, but not for minimum temperatures, daily rainfall, or seasonal fraction of green groundcover. Quarterly grass pollen levels were correlated with corresponding vegetation health indices, and with green groundcover fraction, suggesting that seasonal-scale plant health was higher in the latter period. The magnitude of grass pollen exposure in the subtropical region of Brisbane has increased markedly in the recent past, posing an increased environmental health threat. This study suggests the need for continuous pollen monitoring to track and respond to the possible effects of climate change on grass pollen loads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth Addison-Smith
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andelija Milic
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Divya Dwarakanath
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Marko Simunovic
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Shanice Van Haeften
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Victoria Timbrell
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Janet M Davies
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Centre for the Environment, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Office of Research, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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13
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Ravindra K, Goyal A, Mor S. Pollen allergy: Developing multi-sectorial strategies for its prevention and control in lower and middle-income countries. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2022; 242:113951. [PMID: 35334435 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2022.113951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Pollen allergy is considered a major public health problem that causes morbidity and subsequently affects a patient's quality of life. Pollen due to their large size cannot enter the thoracic regions of the respiratory tract but can affect the nasopharyngeal mucous membrane. At the same time, the submicronic-pollen particles can act as respirable particles reaching deeper into the upper airways leading to exacerbation of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other allergic reactions. Based on the existing literature, expanding evidence shows that climate change and air pollutants could affect the pollen number, morphology, season, allergen content, and distribution pattern. Hence, this will influence the prevalence and occurrence of allergies linked to pollen exposure. Being a part of biogenic pollutants, pollen allergens are not expected to diminish in the foreseeable future. Therefore, it is imperative that steps need to be strengthened to improve and optimize preventive/adaptive strategies. This paper aims to review the major causes of widespread allergy, identify the major gaps, and suggest key preventive/adaptive measures to address the onset and exacerbation of pollen-related allergic diseases with a major focus on lower and middle-income countries. The study also discusses how-to implement the prevention and control measures at the individual, health care communities and organizations, Local Governments, National/International Governments levels to decrease the risk of illnesses associated with pollen allergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaiwal Ravindra
- Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India.
| | - Akshi Goyal
- Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India
| | - Suman Mor
- Department of Environment Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India.
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14
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Juprasong Y, Songnuan W. Plant Stress Scenarios Differentially Affect Expression and IgE Reactivity of Grass Group-1 Allergen (β-Expansin) in Maize and Rice Pollen. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2022; 3:807387. [PMID: 35386660 PMCID: PMC8974862 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2022.807387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Grass pollen is among the most common outdoor aeroallergens eliciting pollen allergies throughout the world. Grass group-1 allergen or β-expansin is recognized as a major pollen allergen, particularly in the grass family Poaceae. Expression of β-expansin has been shown to be dynamic and can be influenced by environmental stresses. This study evaluated the relative expression of β-expansin and IgE-binding ability of crude pollen extract protein of rice and maize under three different stress conditions: flood, salt, and drought. After 1 week of treatments, anthers containing pollen were collected followed by RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis. To evaluate relative expression, qRT-PCR was performed using specific primers for β-expansin and reference genes. Physiological characteristics of treated and untreated maize and rice: plant height; fresh weight of anthers; number of inflorescences, anthers, and pollen grains were also recorded. To assess IgE-binding ability of proteins in rice pollen extracts, soluble crude proteins were extracted and IgE immunoblot and ELISA were performed using serum samples from grass-allergic subjects and healthy control donors. Results showed that plant height, fresh weight of anthers, number of inflorescences, anthers, and pollen grains of both maize and rice decreased significantly under drought stress conditions, but not in other conditions. Expression of β-expansin in pollen of rice showed an apparent increase in all stress treatments relative to control samples. In contrast, a significant decrease of β-expansin expression was detected in maize pollen under all stress-treated conditions. IgE-reactive protein bands from rice pollen extract proteins were ~30 kDa, as expected of the grass-group 1 protein. The intensity of IgE-reactive protein bands and the level of IgE to rice pollen proteins showed significant differences among stress conditions. In conclusion, environmental stresses—flood, salt, and drought, can elicit a change of β-expansin expression and IgE reactivity to grass group-1 pollen allergens. Changes in expression level of this gene likely reflected its importance during stress. However, the response is highly dependent on different schemes employed by each plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yotin Juprasong
- Graduate Program in Toxicology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Systems Biology of Diseases Research Unit, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wisuwat Songnuan
- Center of Excellence on Environmental Health and Toxicology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Systems Biology of Diseases Research Unit, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- *Correspondence: Wisuwat Songnuan
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15
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Oh JW. Pollen Allergy in a Changing Planetary Environment. ALLERGY, ASTHMA & IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH 2022; 14:168-181. [PMID: 35255535 PMCID: PMC8914612 DOI: 10.4168/aair.2022.14.2.168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Airborne pollens are one of the common causative and triggering agents of respiratory allergy in a changing planetary environment. A growing number of people worldwide are contracting allergic diseases caused by pollens. The seasonal variations in pollens have occurred everywhere and the sensitization rate to pollens has increased in children as well as in adults. Moreover, allergenic plants, such as ragweed and Japanese hop, grow in soil damaged by human’s activities and deforestation with air pollution. It is impossible to avoid plants that cause allergies, because pollens can travel many kilometers in the breeze or wind. Hence, it is essential to survey and forecast pollens for the management of pollen allergy. Weather conditions may alter pollen concentrations. A number of studies have shown that increases in CO2 concentration and atmospheric temperature raise pollen concentration. Hence most of the studies on the impact of climate change on aeroallergens must include the amount and allergenicity of pollens. It is yet unknown whether complex interactions with pollens, meteorological variables, and air pollutants in the changing environment. Considering the effect of climate change on the long-term trends in pollen levels and emerging viral infection, it is crucial to forecast and eliminate the associated risk for human health in future and take appropriate measures to reduce it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Won Oh
- Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
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16
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Thibaudon M, Besancenot JP. [Outdoor aeroallergens and climate change]. Rev Mal Respir 2021; 38:1025-1036. [PMID: 34794844 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmr.2021.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pollen and fungal spore concentrations in outdoor air are partly dependent on atmospheric conditions. Since the climate is changing, there is a growing body of research on the effects of climate change on aeroallergens. The present article provides a rapid review of this literature, highlighting the points of agreement, but also drawing attention to the main mistakes to be avoided. STATE OF ART For pollen, the prevailing view is that rising temperatures lead to an earlier start to the pollen season, a longer season, increased allergenic potential and higher concentrations. However, there are exceptions: what is true for one taxon, in one place and at one time, can almost never be generalised. For fungal spores, it is even more difficult to state universal rules. PERSPECTIVES Four priorities can be set for future research: (1) to look for trends only on sufficiently long series and not to neglect possible trend reversals; (2) to give priority to the local scale and the separate consideration of the various pollen and mycological taxa; (3) not to limit oneself to temperature as an element of explanation, but also to consider the other elements of the climate; (4) not to try to explain any evolution in the abundance or seasonality of aeroallergens by climate change alone. CONCLUSIONS Many more analytical studies giving precedence to observation over reasoning are still required, without any preconceptions, before it is possible to synthesise the impacts of climate change on pollen and, even more so, on fungal spores.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Thibaudon
- Réseau national de surveillance aérobiologique (RNSA), Le Plat du Pin, 11, chemin de la Creuzille, 69690 Brussieu, France.
| | - J-P Besancenot
- Réseau national de surveillance aérobiologique (RNSA), Le Plat du Pin, 11, chemin de la Creuzille, 69690 Brussieu, France
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17
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Rojo J, Oteros J, Picornell A, Maya-Manzano JM, Damialis A, Zink K, Werchan M, Werchan B, Smith M, Menzel A, Timpf S, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Bergmann KC, Schmidt-Weber CB, Buters J. Effects of future climate change on birch abundance and their pollen load. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:5934-5949. [PMID: 34363285 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Climate change impacts on the structure and function of ecosystems will worsen public health issues like allergic diseases. Birch trees (Betula spp.) are important sources of aeroallergens in Central and Northern Europe. Birches are vulnerable to climate change as these trees are sensitive to increased temperatures and summer droughts. This study aims to examine the effect of climate change on airborne birch pollen concentrations in Central Europe using Bavaria in Southern Germany as a case study. Pollen data from 28 monitoring stations in Bavaria were used in this study, with time series of up 30 years long. An integrative approach was used to model airborne birch pollen concentrations taking into account drivers influencing birch tree abundance and birch pollen production and projections made according to different climate change and socioeconomic scenarios. Birch tree abundance is projected to decrease in parts of Bavaria at different rates, depending on the climate scenario, particularly in current centres of the species distribution. Climate change is expected to result in initial increases in pollen load but, due to the reduction in birch trees, the amount of airborne birch pollen will decrease at lower altitudes. Conversely, higher altitude areas will experience expansions in birch tree distribution and subsequent increases in airborne birch pollen in the future. Even considering restrictions for migration rates, increases in pollen load are likely in Southwestern areas, where positive trends have already been detected during the last three decades. Integrating models for the distribution and abundance of pollen sources and the drivers that control birch pollen production allowed us to model airborne birch pollen concentrations in the future. The magnitude of changes depends on location and climate change scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Rojo
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Pharmacology, Pharmacognosy and Botany, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose Oteros
- Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Antonio Picornell
- Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, University of Malaga, Malaga, Spain
| | - José M Maya-Manzano
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Athanasios Damialis
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Center Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Katrin Zink
- Bayerisches Landesamt für Umwelt, Schwerpunkt Klima und Energie, Referat KliZ: Klima-Zentrum, Hof/Saale, Germany
| | - Matthias Werchan
- German Pollen Information Service Foundation (PID), Berlin, Germany
| | - Barbora Werchan
- German Pollen Information Service Foundation (PID), Berlin, Germany
| | - Matt Smith
- School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester, Worcester, UK
| | - Annette Menzel
- School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| | - Sabine Timpf
- Institute of Geography, Geoinformatics Group, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
- Helmholtz Center Munich - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Karl-Christian Bergmann
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carsten B Schmidt-Weber
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jeroen Buters
- Center of Allergy & Environment (ZAUM), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Technische Universität München/Helmholtz Center Munich, Munich, Germany
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18
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Roblin DW, Jones JW, Fuller CH. Pollen Exposure and Associated Healthcare Utilization: A Population-based Study Using Health Maintenance Organization Data in the Washington, DC, Area. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2021; 18:1642-1649. [PMID: 33794139 PMCID: PMC8522299 DOI: 10.1513/annalsats.202008-976oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Most studies of the healthcare utilization impact of pollen exposure have focused on emergency department visits or hospital admissions. However, other frequent but lower cost services-phone calls and e-mails to providers and office visits-may also be affected. Objectives: The objective of our study was to estimate the impact of tree and grass pollen exposures on respiratory-related healthcare utilization across a range of medical services, including calls and e-mails to providers, nonurgent face-to-face visits, urgent and emergent care visits, and hospitalizations. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study of daily tree and grass pollen counts linked to electronic health records of Kaiser Permanente beneficiaries in the metropolitan Washington, DC, area for 2013-2014. Results: The proportion of Kaiser Permanente beneficiaries with respiratory-related healthcare utilization was significantly greater (for P ⩽ 0.05) given a 1 standard deviation increase in same-day pollen exposure. For tree pollen, a 1 standard deviation increase in same-day pollen exposure was associated with relative increases in utilization ranging from 1.77% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.07-4.17%) for urgent and emergent care visits to 12.84% (95% CI, 11.02-14.65%) for provider calls/e-mails. For grass pollen exposure, a 1 standard deviation increase in same-day pollen exposure was associated with relative increases in utilization ranging from 1.42% (95% CI, 0.39-2.46) for provider face-to-face visits to 11.09% (95% CI, 9.26-12.92) for provider calls/e-mails. Conclusions: Increased pollen exposure was associated with increases in healthcare utilization across a range of services, with relatively higher increases in provider calls/e-mails and lower increases in emergent or acute care. If climate change increases intensity and geographic scope of pollen exposure as predicted and if this study's estimates of association of peak pollen exposure on healthcare utilization are generalizable, then the impact of climate change on healthcare utilization may be significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas W. Roblin
- Mid-Atlantic Permanente Research Institute, Kaiser Permanente, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Jordan W. Jones
- Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Kansas City, Missouri; and
| | - Christina H. Fuller
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Georgia State University School of Public Health, Atlanta, Georgia
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Schramm PJ, Brown CL, Saha S, Conlon KC, Manangan AP, Bell JE, Hess JJ. A systematic review of the effects of temperature and precipitation on pollen concentrations and season timing, and implications for human health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2021; 65:1615-1628. [PMID: 33877430 PMCID: PMC9016682 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-021-02128-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Climate and weather directly impact plant phenology, affecting airborne pollen. The objective of this systematic review is to examine the impacts of meteorological variables on airborne pollen concentrations and pollen season timing. Using PRISMA methodology, we reviewed literature that assessed whether there was a relationship between local temperature and precipitation and measured airborne pollen. The search strategy included terms related to pollen, trends or measurements, and season timing. For inclusion, studies must have conducted a correlation analysis of at least 5 years of airborne pollen data to local meteorological data and report quantitative results. Data from peer-reviewed articles were extracted on the correlations between seven pollen indicators (main pollen season start date, end date, peak date, and length, annual pollen integral, average daily pollen concentration, and peak pollen concentration), and two meteorological variables (temperature and precipitation). Ninety-three articles were included in the analysis out of 9,679 articles screened. Overall, warmer temperatures correlated with earlier and longer pollen seasons and higher pollen concentrations. Precipitation had varying effects on pollen concentration and pollen season timing indicators. Increased precipitation may have a short-term effect causing low pollen concentrations potentially due to "wash out" effect. Long-term effects of precipitation varied for trees and weeds and had a positive correlation with grass pollen levels. With increases in temperature due to climate change, pollen seasons for some taxa in some regions may start earlier, last longer, and be more intense, which may be associated with adverse health impacts, as pollen exposure has well-known health effects in sensitized individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Schramm
- Climate and Health Program, Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, S106-6, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA.
| | - C L Brown
- Climate and Health Program, Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, S106-6, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA
| | - S Saha
- Climate and Health Program, Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, S106-6, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA
| | - K C Conlon
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - A P Manangan
- Climate and Health Program, Division of Environmental Health Science and Practice, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, S106-6, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA
| | - J E Bell
- Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - J J Hess
- Departments of Emergency Medicine, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, and Global Health, and the Center for Health and the Global Environment, Schools of Medicine and Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Patel S, Kaplan C, Galor A, Kumar N. The Role of Temperature Change, Ambient Temperature, and Relative Humidity in Allergic Conjunctivitis in a US Veteran Population. Am J Ophthalmol 2021; 230:243-255. [PMID: 33991518 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajo.2021.04.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Studies have implicated temperature and humidity in the pathogenesis of allergic conjunctivitis (AC), as these conditions facilitate air particulate and aeroallergen dispersion and tear film instability. Research also suggests that variation in temperature is associated with risk of asthma, but similar data are limited for AC. This study examined associations between several meteorologic conditions, including temperature variation, and AC visit risk. DESIGN Retrospective, case-crossover study. METHODS Data on individuals diagnosed with AC (via International Classification of Diseases-Ninth Edition [ICD-9]) at a Veterans Affairs clinic from January 2010-December 2013 was extracted. Local climate data were obtained from the National Climactic Data Center. Utilizing a case-crossover design, all cases were assigned a random control date 90-250 days prior to diagnosis. Daily time-lagged exposures were computed for 30-day lags. The associations between temperature, temperature variation (standard deviation [SD] of temperature), relative humidity (RH), and temperature-RH interaction with visit risk were examined via multivariate logistic regression models both at the national level and across domestic climate regions. RESULTS Overall, 74,951 subjects made 116,162 visits for AC. Prevalence was highest in spring (>10% April-May) in the Northeast (NE) and Southeast (SE) (>15%), and lowest in winter (<6.1% December-February) in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) (<5%). AC visit risk was positively associated with temperature (OR 1.028, P < .001), SD of temperature (OR 1.054, P < .01), and temperature-RH interaction (OR 1.0003, P < .01), whereas it was negatively associated with RH (OR 0.998, P < .001). Regionally, the PNW, NE, and Lower Midwest (LMW) accounted for the strongest associations. CONCLUSION Temperature, temperature variation, and RH associated with AC visit risk. Observed associations were strongest in northern regions, like the PNW.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sneh Patel
- From the Department of Ophthalmology, Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center (S.P., A.G.); Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami (S.P., A.G.)
| | - Carol Kaplan
- Department of Natural Sciences, Health, and Wellness, Miami Dade College (C.K.), Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Anat Galor
- From the Department of Ophthalmology, Miami Veterans Administration Medical Center (S.P., A.G.); Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami (S.P., A.G.)
| | - Naresh Kumar
- Environmental Health Division, University of Miami (N.K.).
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21
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Long-term pollen trends and associations between pollen phenology and seasonal climate in Atlanta, Georgia (1992-2018). Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2021; 127:471-480.e4. [PMID: 34311074 PMCID: PMC9936553 DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2021.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research has revealed that airborne pollen concentrations and phenology in allergenic plants are changing. In addition, variations in seasonal climate are known to affect pollen phenology in trees, weeds, and grasses. OBJECTIVE To investigate localized trends in pollen concentrations and pollen phenology over time and the effect of seasonal climate variations. METHODS We used daily pollen count concentrations from a National Allergy Bureau pollen counting station located in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, for 13 allergenic taxa. To evaluate long-term trends over time, we developed linear regression models for 6 pollen measures. To evaluate the effect of seasonal climate on phenology, we developed regression models using seasonal climate measures as independent variables and pollen measures as dependent variables. RESULTS For several tree pollen taxa, pollen concentrations increased over time, including oak and juniper pollen. In multiple species, pollen seasons trended toward an earlier release throughout the 27-year period. Variations in seasonal climate did have an effect on pollen counts and the timing of pollen release but varied by taxa. Generally, warmer spring temperatures were associated with an earlier pollen release. In addition, increased precipitation from the preceding fall was associated with increased pollen concentration in the spring months. CONCLUSION Allergenic pollen concentrations for several types of pollen are increasing and trending toward an earlier pollen release in Atlanta, Georgia. Warmer temperatures preceding the pollen season were associated with the earlier pollen release.
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22
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Ziska LH. Climate, Carbon Dioxide, and Plant-Based Aero-Allergens: A Deeper Botanical Perspective. FRONTIERS IN ALLERGY 2021; 2:714724. [PMID: 35386997 PMCID: PMC8974748 DOI: 10.3389/falgy.2021.714724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
There is global evidence of a general increase in the incidence and prevalence of respiratory diseases including allergic rhinitis and associated asthma. This increase in turn, has been related, in part, to concurrent increases in carbon dioxide (CO2) and temperature on pollen production and allergic disease generated from plant-based sources of pollen. Such links to anthropogenic climate change has suggested three significant and interrelated consequences associated with respiratory allergies or disease. First, warmer temperatures and a longer frost-free growing season can influence pollen season length and temporal exposure to airborne aeroallergens. Second, both warmer temperatures and additional CO2 can increase the amount of pollen, the seasonal intensity, from spring through fall. Thirdly, there is evidence from oak and ragweed that rising levels of CO2 could increase the allergen concentration of the pollen and symptom severity. However, while these outcomes are of obvious consequence, they do not fully encompass all of the plant derived changes that could, directly or indirectly, influence aeroallergen production, exposure, and consequences for public health. In this overview, I will delve deeper into other plant-based links to climate/CO2 that are consequential either directly or indirectly to allergic rhinitis and associated disease. Such interactions range from pollen morphology to fire occurrence, from volatile organic compounds to potential changes in pesticide usage. The goal in doing so is to provide a broader context and appreciation for the interactions between plant biology and climate that can also affect allergen production and human impact but which, to date, have received little recognition or research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis H. Ziska
- Associate Professor, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
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23
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Abstract
Human-caused climate change could impact respiratory health, including asthma and allergies, through temperature-driven increases in airborne pollen, but the long-term continental pollen trends and role of climate change in pollen patterns are not well-understood. We measure pollen trends across North America from 1990 to 2018 and find increases in pollen concentrations and longer pollen seasons. We use an ensemble of climate models to test the role of climate change and find that it is the dominant driver of changes in pollen season length and a significant contributor to increasing pollen concentrations. Our results indicate that human-caused climate change has already worsened North American pollen seasons, and climate-driven pollen trends are likely to further exacerbate respiratory health impacts in coming decades. Airborne pollen has major respiratory health impacts and anthropogenic climate change may increase pollen concentrations and extend pollen seasons. While greenhouse and field studies indicate that pollen concentrations are correlated with temperature, a formal detection and attribution of the role of anthropogenic climate change in continental pollen seasons is urgently needed. Here, we use long-term pollen data from 60 North American stations from 1990 to 2018, spanning 821 site-years of data, and Earth system model simulations to quantify the role of human-caused climate change in continental patterns in pollen concentrations. We find widespread advances and lengthening of pollen seasons (+20 d) and increases in pollen concentrations (+21%) across North America, which are strongly coupled to observed warming. Human forcing of the climate system contributed ∼50% (interquartile range: 19–84%) of the trend in pollen seasons and ∼8% (4–14%) of the trend in pollen concentrations. Our results reveal that anthropogenic climate change has already exacerbated pollen seasons in the past three decades with attendant deleterious effects on respiratory health.
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Philipsborn RP, Sheffield P, White A, Osta A, Anderson MS, Bernstein A. Climate Change and the Practice of Medicine: Essentials for Resident Education. ACADEMIC MEDICINE : JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN MEDICAL COLLEGES 2021; 96:355-367. [PMID: 32910006 DOI: 10.1097/acm.0000000000003719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Despite calls for including content on climate change and its effect on health in curricula across the spectrum of medical education, no widely used resource exists to guide residency training programs in this effort. This lack of resources poses challenges for training program leaders seeking to incorporate evidence-based climate and health content into their curricula. Climate change increases risks of heat-related illness, infections, asthma, mental health disorders, poor perinatal outcomes, adverse experiences from trauma and displacement, and other harms. More numerous and increasingly dangerous natural disasters caused by climate change impair delivery of care by disrupting supply chains and compromising power supplies. Graduating trainees face a knowledge gap in understanding, managing, and mitigating these many-faceted consequences of climate change, which-expected to intensify in coming decades-will influence both the health of their patients and the health care they deliver. In this article, the authors propose a framework of climate change and health educational content for residents, including how climate change (1) harms health, (2) necessitates adaptation in clinical practice, and (3) undermines health care delivery. The authors propose not only learning objectives linked to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competencies for resident education but also learning formats and assessment strategies in each content area. They also present opportunities for implementation of climate and health education in residency training programs. Including this content in residency education will better prepare doctors to deliver anticipatory guidance to at-risk patients, manage those experiencing climate-related health effects, and reduce care disruptions during climate-driven extreme weather events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Pass Philipsborn
- R.P. Philipsborn is assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics and Emory Global Health Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2843-7509
| | - Perry Sheffield
- P. Sheffield is assistant professor, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York, New York; ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9156-1193
| | - Andrew White
- A. White is James P. Keating Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9394-7823
| | - Amanda Osta
- A. Osta is associate professor of internal medicine and pediatrics and division chief for education, Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois, and was, at the time of this research, director, Pediatric Residency Program, UI Health, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Marsha S Anderson
- M.S. Anderson is professor, Department of Pediatrics, associate director, Pediatric Residency Program, and assistant dean, Longitudinal Curriculum, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Aaron Bernstein
- A. Bernstein is assistant professor of pediatrics, Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1703-1041
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Abstract
Increased levels of CO2 and various greenhouse gases cause global warming and, in combination with pollutants from fossil fuel combustion and vehicular and industrial emissions, have been driving increases in noncommunicable diseases across the globe, resulting a higher mortality and morbidity. Respiratory diseases and associated allergenic manifestations have increased worldwide, with rates higher in developing countries. Pollen allergy serves as a model for studying the relationship between air pollution and respiratory disorders. Climate changes affect the quality and amount of airborne allergenic pollens, and pollutants alter their allergenicity, resulting in greater health impacts, especially in sensitized individuals.
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Bryś K, Bryś T, Ojrzyńska H, Sayegh MA, Głogowski A. Variability and role of long-wave radiation fluxes in the formation of net radiation and thermal features of grassy and bare soil active surfaces in Wrocław. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 747:141192. [PMID: 32777497 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The paper examines the variability of long-wave radiation fluxes in two contrasting types of urban active surfaces - grassy surface and surface without plants (bare soil) in Wrocław (Poland) within a 12-year period (August 2007-July 2019). The study used net radiation and heat balance formulas to calculate the share of individual radiation fluxes in these balances, and then utilized the Stefan-Boltzmann formula to calculate the effective temperatures of researched surfaces. The analysis showed the temporal variability of these fluxes against the background of weather and climatic conditions and in relation to the variability of short-wave radiation fluxes. The role of long-wave radiation fluxes in forming net radiation was examined in detail to show the buffering role of vegetation surfaces regarding the variability of solar radiation fluxes and their heat effects. The mean monthly values of outgoing long-wave radiation fluxes change from 309.0 W·m-2 for bare soil, 309.8 W·m-2 for grassy surface, and 288.8 W·m-2 for downward atmospheric radiation to respectively 435.8, 425.0 and 369.4 W·m-2 in July. The coefficient of variability for long-wave radiation daily fluxes are approximately one order of magnitude lower than for the short-wave radiation. The differences between values of long-wave radiation fluxes for bare soil and grassy surfaces vary from slight negative values in winter to relatively sizable positive values during the vegetation period (March-October). The weakening of the buffering effect for grassy surface and how air temperature then changes considerably compared to the effective temperature of the active surfaces were explained using the dry summer period of August 2015 as example. The obtained results are important, as they provide empirical arguments for urban planning to extend plant areas' share in big cities as well as to introduce there a friendly environmental system of irrigation in these areas using renewable solar energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystyna Bryś
- Institute of Environmental Protection and Development, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Geodesy, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Science, pl. Grunwaldzki 24, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Tadeusz Bryś
- Polish Geophysical Society, Wrocław Division, pl. Grunwaldzki 24, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Hanna Ojrzyńska
- Institute of Geography and Regional Development, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Environmental Management, Wroclaw University, pl. Uniwersytecki 1, 50-137 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Marderos Ara Sayegh
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, ul. Norwida 4/6, 50-337 Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Arkadiusz Głogowski
- Institute of Environmental Protection and Development, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Geodesy, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Science, pl. Grunwaldzki 24, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland.
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27
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Anenberg SC, Haines S, Wang E, Nassikas N, Kinney PL. Synergistic health effects of air pollution, temperature, and pollen exposure: a systematic review of epidemiological evidence. Environ Health 2020; 19:130. [PMID: 33287833 PMCID: PMC7720572 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-020-00681-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to heat, air pollution, and pollen are associated with health outcomes, including cardiovascular and respiratory disease. Studies assessing the health impacts of climate change have considered increased exposure to these risk factors separately, though they may be increasing simultaneously for some populations and may act synergistically on health. Our objective is to systematically review epidemiological evidence for interactive effects of multiple exposures to heat, air pollution, and pollen on human health. METHODS We systematically searched electronic literature databases (last search, April 29, 2019) for studies reporting quantitative measurements of associations between at least two of the exposures and mortality from any cause and cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity and mortality specifically. Following the Navigation Guide systematic review methodology, we evaluated the risk of bias of individual studies and the overall quality and strength of evidence. RESULTS We found 56 studies that met the inclusion criteria. Of these, six measured air pollution, heat, and pollen; 39 measured air pollution and heat; 10 measured air pollution and pollen; and one measured heat and pollen. Nearly all studies were at risk of bias from exposure assessment error. However, consistent exposure-response across studies led us to conclude that there is overall moderate quality and sufficient evidence for synergistic effects of heat and air pollution. We concluded that there is overall low quality and limited evidence for synergistic effects from simultaneous exposure to (1) air pollution, pollen, and heat; and (2) air pollution and pollen. With only one study, we were unable to assess the evidence for synergistic effects of heat and pollen. CONCLUSIONS If synergistic effects between heat and air pollution are confirmed with additional research, the health impacts from climate change-driven increases in air pollution and heat exposure may be larger than previously estimated in studies that consider these risk factors individually.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan C. Anenberg
- Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC 20052 USA
| | - Shannon Haines
- Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC 20052 USA
- Now at: American Lung Association, Springfield, IL USA
| | - Elizabeth Wang
- Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC 20052 USA
| | - Nicholas Nassikas
- Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Brown University Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI 02903 USA
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The Impact of Climate Change on Pollen Season and Allergic Sensitization to Pollens. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 2020; 41:97-109. [PMID: 33228876 DOI: 10.1016/j.iac.2020.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Pollens are a major cause of seasonal allergic diseases. Weather may alter the production of pollens. Increased atmospheric temperatures lead to earlier pollination of many plants and longer duration of pollination, resulting in extended pollen seasons, with early spring or late winter. Longer pollen seasons increase duration of exposure, resulting in more sensitization, and higher pollen concentrations may lead to more severe symptoms. Climate changes in contact to pollens may affect both allergic sensitization and symptom prevalence with severity. The future consequences of climate change, however, are speculative, because the influence on humans, is complex.
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Davies JM, Berman D, Beggs PJ, Ramón GD, Peter J, Katelaris CH, Ziska LH. Global Climate Change and Pollen Aeroallergens: A Southern Hemisphere Perspective. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 2020; 41:1-16. [PMID: 33228867 DOI: 10.1016/j.iac.2020.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Climatic change will have an impact on production and release of pollen, with consequences for the duration and magnitude of aeroallergen seasonal exposure and allergic diseases. Evaluations of pollen aerobiology in the southern hemisphere have been limited by resourcing and the density of monitoring sites. This review emphasizes inconsistencies in pollen monitoring methods and metrics used globally. Research should consider unique southern hemisphere biodiversity, climate, plant distributions, standardization of pollen aerobiology, automation, and environmental integration. For both hemispheres, there is a clear need for better understanding of likely influences of climate change and comprehending their impact on pollen-related health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet M Davies
- School of Biomedical Science, Queensland University of Technology, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia; Office of Research, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Herston, Queensland 4006, Australia.
| | - Dilys Berman
- Allergy and Immunology Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Paul J Beggs
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Germán Darío Ramón
- Hospital Italiano Regional DelSur, Bahía Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jonny Peter
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, University of Cape Town, 7700
- PO Box 34560, 7937, South Africa; Allergy and Immunology Unit, University of Cape Town Lung Institute, George Street, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Lewis H Ziska
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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Katelaris CH. Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events in Australia: Impact on Allergic Diseases. Immunol Allergy Clin North Am 2020; 41:53-62. [PMID: 33228872 DOI: 10.1016/j.iac.2020.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Several climate change-related predictions and observations have been documented for the Australian continent. Extreme weather events such as cycles of severe drought and damaging flooding are occurring with greater frequency and have a severe impact on human health. Two specific aspects of climate change affecting allergic and other respiratory disorders are outlined: firstly, the consequences of extreme weather events and secondly, the change in distribution of airborne allergens that results from various climate change factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constance H Katelaris
- Immunology and Allergy, Western Sydney University; Head of Unit, Campbelltown Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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31
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Geller-Bernstein C, Portnoy JM. The Clinical Utility of Pollen Counts. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2020; 57:340-349. [PMID: 30043255 DOI: 10.1007/s12016-018-8698-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In this review, we describe how pollen counts are performed, the health effects caused by exposure to varying amounts of pollen, the clinical utility of reporting pollen counts to the public, and how that information can be used by patients who have allergies to improve their health. The public is very interested in pollen counts, particularly if the counts provide a forecast of expected pollen exposure for the next few days. Traditional pollen counts are labor-intensive; poorly distributed; and, since the counts are usually 1-day-old, do not provide forecasts that can be acted on. New methods that provide short- and long-term pollen forecasts can provide this information to allergic individuals so that they can respond to changing outdoor conditions. Studies of the relationship between artificial and natural exposure to pollen and development of symptoms have provided improved understanding into how much pollen it takes to cause symptoms. Thresholds for pollen counts that trigger symptoms vary by pollen type, sensitivity of the population, and interactions with other atmospheric exposures. Strategies to inform the public when the pollen count poses a health risk have been proposed along with computerized systems that provide personalized pollen alerts. The best performing public notification system was a "traffic light system" that reported pollen exposure as low, 0-30; intermediate, 31-50; or high, 51-150. This system outperformed other threshold systems used in Sweden and in Britain/Denmark. Continued improvements in pollen forecasting models combined with data provided by automated pollen counters and better public reporting should permit allergic individuals and urban planners to adapt effectively to changes in outdoor aeroallergen exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmi Geller-Bernstein
- Zabludovicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Jay M Portnoy
- Division of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, Children's Mercy Hospital, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA.
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Poole JA, Barnes CS, Demain JG, Bernstein JA, Padukudru MA, Sheehan WJ, Fogelbach GG, Wedner J, Codina R, Levetin E, Cohn JR, Kagen S, Portnoy JM, Nel AE. 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. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2019; 143:1702-1710. [PMID: 30826366 PMCID: PMC10907958 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill A Poole
- Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Neb.
| | - Charles S Barnes
- Division of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, Children's Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, Mo
| | - Jeffrey G Demain
- Allergy Asthma & Immunology Center of Alaska, the Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, and the WWAMI School of Medical Education, University of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska
| | - Jonathan A Bernstein
- Division of Immunology, Allergy Section, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Mahesh A Padukudru
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, JSS Medical College, JSSAHER, Mysore, India
| | - William J Sheehan
- Division of Allergy, Children's National Medicine Center, Department of Pediatrics, George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC
| | | | - James Wedner
- Division of Allergy & Immunology, John T. Milliken Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University, St Louis, Mo
| | - Rosa Codina
- Allergen Science & Consulting, Lenoir, NC; Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, Fla
| | - Estelle Levetin
- Department of Biological Science, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Okla
| | - John R Cohn
- Korman Respiratory Institute, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pa
| | - Steve Kagen
- Division of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wis
| | - Jay M Portnoy
- Division of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, Children's Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Mo
| | - Andre E Nel
- University of California Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine and California NanoSystems Institute, Los Angeles, Calif
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Gentili R, Asero R, Caronni S, Guarino M, Montagnani C, Mistrello G, Citterio S. Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. temperature-responsive traits influencing the prevalence and severity of pollinosis: a study in controlled conditions. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2019; 19:155. [PMID: 31023241 PMCID: PMC6482493 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-019-1762-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. is one of the most important sources of allergenic pollen in many regions of the world. Its health impact increased over the last decades and is expected to further increase in consequence of climate change. However little information is available on the specific role played by temperature on allergy rising. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of temperature on A. artemisiifolia growth, flowering and pollen allergenicity, the major plant functional traits influencing the prevalence and severity of pollinosis. RESULTS Plants were grown in controlled conditions at three thermal regimes: "Low" (LT: 18-14 °C light-dark), "Intermediate" (IT: 24-20 °C light-dark) and "High" (HT: 30-26 °C light-dark). During plant development, plant vegetative and reproductive morpho-functional traits were measured and, at the end of plant life-cycle, mature pollen was collected and analyzed for its allergenic properties by slot blot, 1D- and 2D-western blot (by using a pool of sera from ragweed-allergic patients) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A. artemisiifolia showed a great development plasticity leading to a broad temperature tolerance. Shoot architecture, growth rate, number of male inflorescence and pollen allergenicity were temperature-responsive traits. Pollen allergenicity increased in parallel with temperature and differences were related to allergen synthesis and Amb a 1-IgE-binding. Flavonoids whose concentration in pollen decreased with the increase of temperature, were recognized as the cause of the negligible Amb a 1-IgE binding in LT pollen. CONCLUSIONS Results show that temperature governs plant development and pollen allergenicity influencing the temporal and spatial magnitude of subject exposure to allergens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo Gentili
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Riccardo Asero
- Ambulatorio di Allergologia, Clinica San Carlo, Paderno Dugnano, MI Italy
| | - Sarah Caronni
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Guarino
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Chiara Montagnani
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | | | - Sandra Citterio
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 1, 20126 Milano, Italy
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Sapkota A, Murtugudde R, Curriero FC, Upperman CR, Ziska L, Jiang C. Associations between alteration in plant phenology and hay fever prevalence among US adults: Implication for changing climate. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212010. [PMID: 30921361 PMCID: PMC6438449 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant phenology (e.g. timing of spring green-up, flowering) is among the most sensitive indicator of ecological response to ongoing climate variability and change. While previous studies have documented changes in the timing of spring green-up and flowering across different parts of the world, empirical evidence regarding how such ongoing ecological changes impact allergic disease burden at population level is lacking. Because earlier spring green-up may increase season length for tree pollen, we hypothesized that early onset of spring (negative anomaly in start of season (SOS)) will be associated with increased hay fever burden. To test this, we first calculated a median cardinal date for SOS for each county within the contiguous US for the years 2001-2013 using phenology data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). We categorized yearly deviations in SOS for each county from their respective long-term averages as: very early (>3 wks early), early (1-3 wks early), average (within 1 wk), late (1-3 wks late) and very late (> 3 wks late). We linked these data to 2002-2013 National Health Interview Survey data, and investigated the association between changes in SOS and hay fever prevalence using logistic regression. We observed that adults living in counties with a very early onset of SOS had a 14% higher odds of hay fever compared to the reference group, i.e. those living in counties where onset of spring was within the normal range (Odds Ratios (OR): 1.14. 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.03-1.27). Likewise, adults living in counties with very late onset of SOS had a 18% higher odds hay fever compared to the reference group (OR: 1.18, CI: 1.05-1.32). Our data provides the first-ever national scale assessment of the impact of changing plant phenology-linked to ongoing climate variability and change-on hay fever prevalence. Our findings are likely tied to changes in pollen dynamics, i.e early onset of spring increases the duration of exposure to tree pollen, while very late onset of spring increases the propensity of exposure because of simultaneous blooming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Sapkota
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States of America
| | - Raghu Murtugudde
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States of America
| | - Frank C. Curriero
- Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Crystal R. Upperman
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States of America
| | - Lewis Ziska
- Crop Systems and Global Change Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, United States of America
| | - Chengsheng Jiang
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States of America
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Lucas RM, Yazar S, Young AR, Norval M, de Gruijl FR, Takizawa Y, Rhodes LE, Sinclair CA, Neale RE. Human health in relation to exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation under changing stratospheric ozone and climate. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2019; 18:641-680. [PMID: 30810559 DOI: 10.1039/c8pp90060d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The Montreal Protocol has limited increases in the UV-B (280-315 nm) radiation reaching the Earth's surface as a result of depletion of stratospheric ozone. Nevertheless, the incidence of skin cancers continues to increase in most light-skinned populations, probably due mainly to risky sun exposure behaviour. In locations with strong sun protection programs of long duration, incidence is now reducing in younger age groups. Changes in the epidemiology of UV-induced eye diseases are less clear, due to a lack of data. Exposure to UV radiation plays a role in the development of cataracts, pterygium and possibly age-related macular degeneration; these are major causes of visual impairment world-wide. Photodermatoses and phototoxic reactions to drugs are not uncommon; management of the latter includes recognition of the risks by the prescribing physician. Exposure to UV radiation has benefits for health through the production of vitamin D in the skin and modulation of immune function. The latter has benefits for skin diseases such as psoriasis and possibly for systemic autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. The health risks of sun exposure can be mitigated through appropriate sun protection, such as clothing with both good UV-blocking characteristics and adequate skin coverage, sunglasses, shade, and sunscreen. New sunscreen preparations provide protection against a broader spectrum of solar radiation, but it is not clear that this has benefits for health. Gaps in knowledge make it difficult to derive evidence-based sun protection advice that balances the risks and benefits of sun exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M Lucas
- National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. and Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - S Yazar
- Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia and MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - M Norval
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh Medical School, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - F R de Gruijl
- Department of Dermatology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Y Takizawa
- Akita University School of Medicine, National Institute for Minamata Disease, Nakadai, Itabashiku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - L E Rhodes
- Centre for Dermatology Research, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine, and Health, The University of Manchester and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK
| | | | - R E Neale
- QIMR Berghofer Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Brisbane, Australia and School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Australia
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Kuruvilla ME, Vanijcharoenkarn K, Shih JA, Lee FEH. Epidemiology and risk factors for asthma. Respir Med 2019; 149:16-22. [PMID: 30885424 DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2019.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Merin E Kuruvilla
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Emory University, USA.
| | | | - Jennifer A Shih
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Emory University, USA
| | - Frances Eun-Hyung Lee
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Emory University, USA
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Pałczyński C, Kupryś-Lipinska I, Wittczak T, Jassem E, Breborowicz A, Kuna P. The position paper of the Polish Society of Allergology on climate changes, natural disasters and allergy and asthma. Postepy Dermatol Alergol 2018; 35:552-562. [PMID: 30618521 PMCID: PMC6320485 DOI: 10.5114/ada.2017.71273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The observed global climate change is an indisputable cause of the increased frequency of extreme weather events and related natural disasters. This phenomenon is observed all over the world including Poland. Moreover, Polish citizens as tourists are also exposed to climate phenomena that do not occur in our climate zone. Extreme weather events and related disasters can have a significant impact on people with allergic diseases, including asthma. These effects may be associated with the exposure to air pollution, allergens, and specific microclimate conditions. Under the auspices of the Polish Society of Allergology, experts in the field of environmental allergy prepared a statement on climate changes, natural disasters and allergy and asthma to reduce the risk of adverse health events provoked by climate and weather factors. The guidelines contain the description of the factors related to climate changes and natural disasters affecting the course of allergic diseases, the specific microclimate conditions and the recommendations of the Polish Society of Allergology for vulnerable population, patients suffering from asthma and allergy diseases, allergologists and authorities in the event of climate and weather hazards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cezary Pałczyński
- Department of Internal Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, Barlicki University Hospital, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Izabela Kupryś-Lipinska
- Department of Internal Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, Barlicki University Hospital, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | | | - Ewa Jassem
- Department of Allergology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland
| | - Anna Breborowicz
- Department of Pediatric Pneumonolgy, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Piotr Kuna
- Department of Internal Medicine, Asthma and Allergy, Barlicki University Hospital, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
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Kim KR, Oh JW, Woo SY, Seo YA, Choi YJ, Kim HS, Lee WY, Kim BJ. Does the increase in ambient CO 2 concentration elevate allergy risks posed by oak pollen? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2018; 62:1587-1594. [PMID: 29748910 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-018-1558-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Revised: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Oak pollen is a major respiratory allergen in Korea, and the distribution of oak trees is expected to increase by ecological succession and climate change. One of the drivers of climate change is increasing CO2, which is also known to amplify the allergy risk of weed pollen by inducing elevated allergenic protein content. However, the impact of CO2 concentration on tree pollen is not clearly understood due to the experimental difficulties in carrying out extended CO2 treatment. To study the response of pollen production of sawtooth oak trees (Quercus acutissima) to elevated levels of ambient CO2, three open-top chambers at the National Institute of Forest Science in Suwon, Korea were utilized with daytime (8 am-6 pm) CO2 concentrations of ambient (× 1.0, ~ 400 ppm), × 1.4 (~ 560 ppm), and × 1.8 (~ 720 ppm) treatments. Each chamber had three sawtooth oak trees planted in September 2009. One or two trees per chamber matured to bloom in 2016. Five to six catkins were selected per tree and polyethylene bags were attached to collect pollen grains. The total number of catkins per tree was counted and the number and weight of pollen grains per catkin were measured. Oak allergen-Que a 1 (Allergon Co., Uppsala, Sweden)-was extracted and purified to make an ELISA kit by which the antigen levels in the pollen samples were quantified. Total pollen counts per tree of the × 1.4 and × 1.8 treatments showed significant increase of 353 and 1299%, respectively, from the × 1.0 treatment (p < 0.001). Allergenic protein contents at the × 1.4 and × 1.8 treatments also showed significant increase of 12 and 11%, respectively (p = 0.011). The × 1.8 treatment induced significant difference from the × 1.0 treatment in terms of pollen production and allergenic protein content, whereas the × 1.4 treatment showed mixed significance. In summary, the oak trees under the elevated CO2 levels, which are expected in the changing climate, produced significantly higher amount of pollen and allergenic protein than under the present air conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyu Rang Kim
- Applied Meteorology Research Division, National Institute of Meteorological Sciences, 33, Seohobuk-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, 63568, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jae-Won Oh
- Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Su-Young Woo
- Department of Environmental Horticulture, University of Seoul, 163 Seoulsiripdae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 02504, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Am Seo
- Applied Meteorology Research Division, National Institute of Meteorological Sciences, 33, Seohobuk-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, 63568, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Jin Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Seok Kim
- Department of Forest Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Research Institute for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Wi Young Lee
- Department of Forest Genetic Resources, National Institute of Forest Sciences, 39 Onjeong-ro, Suwon, 16631, Republic of Korea
| | - Baek-Jo Kim
- Applied Meteorology Research Division, National Institute of Meteorological Sciences, 33, Seohobuk-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, 63568, Republic of Korea
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Sierra-Heredia C, North M, Brook J, Daly C, Ellis AK, Henderson D, Henderson SB, Lavigne É, Takaro TK. Aeroallergens in Canada: Distribution, Public Health Impacts, and Opportunities for Prevention. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:E1577. [PMID: 30044421 PMCID: PMC6121311 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15081577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Revised: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Aeroallergens occur naturally in the environment and are widely dispersed across Canada, yet their public health implications are not well-understood. This review intends to provide a scientific and public health-oriented perspective on aeroallergens in Canada: their distribution, health impacts, and new developments including the effects of climate change and the potential role of aeroallergens in the development of allergies and asthma. The review also describes anthropogenic effects on plant distribution and diversity, and how aeroallergens interact with other environmental elements, such as air pollution and weather events. Increased understanding of the relationships between aeroallergens and health will enhance our ability to provide accurate information, improve preventive measures and provide timely treatments for affected populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michelle North
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H7, Canada.
- Department of Biomedical & Molecular Sciences and Division of Allergy & Immunology, Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada.
- Allergy Research Unit, Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, ON K7L 2V7, Canada.
| | - Jeff Brook
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M3H 5T4, Canada.
| | - Christina Daly
- Air Quality Health Index, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada.
| | - Anne K Ellis
- Department of Biomedical & Molecular Sciences and Division of Allergy & Immunology, Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada.
- Allergy Research Unit, Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, ON K7L 2V7, Canada.
| | - Dave Henderson
- Health and Air Quality Services, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Gatineau, QC K1A 0H3, Canada.
| | - Sarah B Henderson
- Environmental Health Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4R4, Canada.
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Éric Lavigne
- Air Health Science Division, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada.
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1G 5Z3, Canada.
| | - Tim K Takaro
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
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Annesi-Maesano I. United Nations Climate Change Conferences: COP21 a lost opportunity for asthma and allergies and preparing for COP22. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2018; 138:57-8. [PMID: 27373326 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2016.02.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Annesi-Maesano
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, INSERM, Pierre Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health (IPLESP UMRS 1136), Epidemiology of Allergic and Respiratory Diseases Department (EPAR), Saint-Antoine Medical School, Paris, France.
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Das I, Pedit J, Handa S, Jagger P. Household air pollution (HAP), microenvironment and child health: Strategies for mitigating HAP exposure in urban Rwanda. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS : ERL [WEB SITE] 2018; 13:045011. [PMID: 29682002 PMCID: PMC5909824 DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/aab047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to household air pollution (HAP) from cooking and heating with solid fuels is major risk factor for morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Children under five are particularly at risk for acute lower respiratory infection. We use baseline data from randomized controlled trial evaluating a household energy intervention in Gisenyi, Rwanda to investigate the role of the microenvironment as a determinant of children's HAP-related health symptoms. Our sample includes 529 households, with 694 children under five. We examine the association between likelihood of HAP-related health symptom prevalence and characteristics of the microenvironment including: dwelling and cooking area structure; distance to nearest road; and tree cover. We find that children residing in groups of enclosed dwellings, in households that cook indoors, and in households proximate to tree cover, are significantly more likely to experience symptoms of respiratory infection, illness with cough and difficulty breathing. On the other hand, children in households with cemented floors and ventilation holes in the cooking area, are significantly less likely to experience the same symptoms. Our findings suggest that in addition to promoting increased access to clean cooking technologies, there are important infrastructure and micro-environment related interventions that mitigate HAP exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ipsita Das
- Department of Public Policy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC- CH) Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Joseph Pedit
- Carolina Population Center, UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sudhanshu Handa
- Department of Public Policy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC- CH) Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Carolina Population Center, UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Pamela Jagger
- Department of Public Policy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC- CH) Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Carolina Population Center, UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Curriculum for the Environment and Ecology, UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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43
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Effect of pollution on allergy/immunology. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2018; 141:878-879. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2018.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Ritenberga O, Sofiev M, Siljamo P, Saarto A, Dahl A, Ekebom A, Sauliene I, Shalaboda V, Severova E, Hoebeke L, Ramfjord H. A statistical model for predicting the inter-annual variability of birch pollen abundance in Northern and North-Eastern Europe. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 615:228-239. [PMID: 28972900 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.09.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Revised: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The paper suggests a methodology for predicting next-year seasonal pollen index (SPI, a sum of daily-mean pollen concentrations) over large regions and demonstrates its performance for birch in Northern and North-Eastern Europe. A statistical model is constructed using meteorological, geophysical and biological characteristics of the previous year). A cluster analysis of multi-annual data of European Aeroallergen Network (EAN) revealed several large regions in Europe, where the observed SPI exhibits similar patterns of the multi-annual variability. We built the model for the northern cluster of stations, which covers Finland, Sweden, Baltic States, part of Belarus, and, probably, Russia and Norway, where the lack of data did not allow for conclusive analysis. The constructed model was capable of predicting the SPI with correlation coefficient reaching up to 0.9 for some stations, odds ratio is infinitely high for 50% of sites inside the region and the fraction of prediction falling within factor of 2 from observations, stays within 40-70%. In particular, model successfully reproduced both the bi-annual cycle of the SPI and years when this cycle breaks down.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Ritenberga
- University of Latvia Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, Rainis bvld 19, Riga, LV -1586, Latvia.
| | - Mikhail Sofiev
- Finnish Meteorological Institute, Erik Palmenin aukio 1, 00560 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Pilvi Siljamo
- Finnish Meteorological Institute, Erik Palmenin aukio 1, 00560 Helsinki, Finland.
| | | | - Aslog Dahl
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Agneta Ekebom
- Palynological Laboratory, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | | | | | | | - Lucie Hoebeke
- Belgian Aerobiological Network, Mycology and Aerobiology service, Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Hallvard Ramfjord
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
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Park HK. Air pollution and climate change: Effects on asthmatic patients. ALLERGY ASTHMA & RESPIRATORY DISEASE 2018. [DOI: 10.4168/aard.2018.6.2.79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Kyung Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea
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Götschke J, Mertsch P, Bischof M, Kneidinger N, Matthes S, Renner ED, Schultz K, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Duchna HW, Behr J, Schmude J, Huber RM, Milger K. Perception of climate change in patients with chronic lung disease. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186632. [PMID: 29045479 PMCID: PMC5646841 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Climate change affects human health. The respective consequences are predicted to increase in the future. Patients with chronic lung disease are particularly vulnerable to the involved environmental alterations. However, their subjective perception and reactions to these alterations remain unknown. METHODS In this pilot study, we surveyed 172 adult patients who underwent pulmonary rehabilitation and 832 adult tourists without lung disease in the alpine region about their perception of being affected by climate change and their potential reaction to specific consequences. The patients' survey also contained the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) to rate the severity of symptoms. RESULTS Most of the patients stated asthma (73.8%), COPD (9.3%) or both (11.0%) as underlying disease while 5.8% suffered from other chronic lung diseases. Patients and tourists feel equally affected by current climate change in general, while allergic subjects in both groups feel significantly more affected (p = 0.04). The severity of symptoms assessed by CAT correlates with the degree of feeling affected (p<0.01). The main disturbing consequences for patients are decreased air quality, increasing numbers of ticks and mosquitos and a rising risk for allergy and extreme weather events such as thunderstroms, while tourists are less disturbed by these factors. Increasing number of heat-days is of little concern to both groups. CONCLUSION Overall patients are more sensitive to health-related consequences of climate change. Yet, the hazard of heat-days seems underestimated and awareness should be raised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremias Götschke
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Pontus Mertsch
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Bischof
- Chair of Economic Geography and Tourism Research, Department of Geography, University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Kneidinger
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sandhya Matthes
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ellen D. Renner
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education, CK-CARE, Davos, Switzerland
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Augsburg, Germany
- Hochgebirgsklinik Davos, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Konrad Schultz
- Klinik Bad Reichenhall der Deutschen Rentenversicherung Bayern Süd, Bad Reichenhall, Germany
| | - Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education, CK-CARE, Davos, Switzerland
- Chair and Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Technical University Munich and Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Werner Duchna
- Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education, CK-CARE, Davos, Switzerland
- Hochgebirgsklinik Davos, Davos, Switzerland
| | - Jürgen Behr
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Asklepios Fachkliniken München Gauting, Gauting, Germany
| | - Jürgen Schmude
- Chair of Economic Geography and Tourism Research, Department of Geography, University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Rudolf M. Huber
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Katrin Milger
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Zhao F, Durner J, Winkler JB, Traidl-Hoffmann C, Strom TM, Ernst D, Frank U. Pollen of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.): Illumina-based de novo sequencing and differential transcript expression upon elevated NO 2/O 3. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2017; 224:503-514. [PMID: 28284545 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.02.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) is a highly allergenic annual ruderal plant and native to Northern America, but now also spreading across Europe. Air pollution and climate change will not only affect plant growth, pollen production and duration of the whole pollen season, but also the amount of allergenic encoding transcripts and proteins of the pollen. The objective of this study was to get a better understanding of transcriptional changes in ragweed pollen upon NO2 and O3 fumigation. This will also contribute to a systems biology approach to understand the reaction of the allergenic pollen to air pollution and climate change. Ragweed plants were grown in climate chambers under controlled conditions and fumigated with enhanced levels of NO2 and O3. Illumina sequencing and de novo assembly revealed significant differentially expressed transcripts, belonging to different gene ontology (GO) terms that were grouped into biological process and molecular function. Transcript levels of the known Amb a ragweed encoding allergens were clearly up-regulated under elevated NO2, whereas the amount of allergen encoding transcripts was more variable under elevated O3 conditions. Moreover transcripts encoding allergen known from other plants could be identified. The transcriptional changes in ragweed pollen upon elevated NO2 fumigation indicates that air pollution will alter the transcriptome of the pollen. The changed levels of allergenic encoding transcripts may have an influence on the total allergenic potential of ragweed pollen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhao
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Jörg Durner
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; Biochemical Plant Pathology, Technische Universität München, Center of Life and Food Sciences Weihenstephan, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany.
| | - J Barbro Winkler
- Research Unit Environmental Simulation, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Claudia Traidl-Hoffmann
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, UNIKA-T, Augsburg, Germany; CK-CARE, Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education, Davos-Wolfgang, Switzerland.
| | - Tim-Matthias Strom
- Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Dieter Ernst
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; CK-CARE, Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education, Davos-Wolfgang, Switzerland.
| | - Ulrike Frank
- Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany; CK-CARE, Christine Kühne - Center for Allergy Research and Education, Davos-Wolfgang, Switzerland.
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Reinmuth-Selzle K, Kampf CJ, Lucas K, Lang-Yona N, Fröhlich-Nowoisky J, Shiraiwa M, Lakey PSJ, Lai S, Liu F, Kunert AT, Ziegler K, Shen F, Sgarbanti R, Weber B, Bellinghausen I, Saloga J, Weller MG, Duschl A, Schuppan D, Pöschl U. Air Pollution and Climate Change Effects on Allergies in the Anthropocene: Abundance, Interaction, and Modification of Allergens and Adjuvants. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:4119-4141. [PMID: 28326768 PMCID: PMC5453620 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b04908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Revised: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution and climate change are potential drivers for the increasing burden of allergic diseases. The molecular mechanisms by which air pollutants and climate parameters may influence allergic diseases, however, are complex and elusive. This article provides an overview of physical, chemical and biological interactions between air pollution, climate change, allergens, adjuvants and the immune system, addressing how these interactions may promote the development of allergies. We reviewed and synthesized key findings from atmospheric, climate, and biomedical research. The current state of knowledge, open questions, and future research perspectives are outlined and discussed. The Anthropocene, as the present era of globally pervasive anthropogenic influence on planet Earth and, thus, on the human environment, is characterized by a strong increase of carbon dioxide, ozone, nitrogen oxides, and combustion- or traffic-related particulate matter in the atmosphere. These environmental factors can enhance the abundance and induce chemical modifications of allergens, increase oxidative stress in the human body, and skew the immune system toward allergic reactions. In particular, air pollutants can act as adjuvants and alter the immunogenicity of allergenic proteins, while climate change affects the atmospheric abundance and human exposure to bioaerosols and aeroallergens. To fully understand and effectively mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution and climate change on allergic diseases, several challenges remain to be resolved. Among these are the identification and quantification of immunochemical reaction pathways involving allergens and adjuvants under relevant environmental and physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christopher J. Kampf
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
- Institute
of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Johannes
Gutenberg University, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Kurt Lucas
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Naama Lang-Yona
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | | | - Manabu Shiraiwa
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
- Department
of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-2025, United States
| | - Pascale S. J. Lakey
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Senchao Lai
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
- South
China University of Technology, School of
Environment and Energy, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Fobang Liu
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Anna T. Kunert
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Kira Ziegler
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Fangxia Shen
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Rossella Sgarbanti
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Bettina Weber
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Iris Bellinghausen
- Department
of Dermatology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, 55131, Germany
| | - Joachim Saloga
- Department
of Dermatology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, 55131, Germany
| | - Michael G. Weller
- Division
1.5 Protein Analysis, Federal Institute
for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Berlin, 12489, Germany
| | - Albert Duschl
- Department
of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Detlef Schuppan
- Institute
of Translational Immunology and Research Center for Immunotherapy,
Institute of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, 55131 Germany
- Division
of Gastroenterology, Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Ulrich Pöschl
- Multiphase
Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute
for Chemistry, Mainz, 55128, Germany
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Schmidt CW. Your Grandchildren's Pollen? Modeling the Future of Ragweed Sensitization in Europe. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2017; 125:A60. [PMID: 28248182 PMCID: PMC5332203 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.125-a60] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
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50
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Upperman CR, Parker JD, Akinbami LJ, Jiang C, He X, Murtugudde R, Curriero FC, Ziska L, Sapkota A. Exposure to Extreme Heat Events Is Associated with Increased Hay Fever Prevalence among Nationally Representative Sample of US Adults: 1997-2013. THE JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY-IN PRACTICE 2016; 5:435-441.e2. [PMID: 27840238 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaip.2016.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/08/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Warmer temperature can alter seasonality of pollen as well as pollen concentration, and may impact allergic diseases such as hay fever. Recent studies suggest that extreme heat events will likely increase in frequency, intensity, and duration in coming decades in response to changing climate. OBJECTIVE The overall objective of this study was to investigate if extreme heat events are associated with hay fever. METHODS We linked National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data from 1997 to 2013 (n = 505,386 respondents) with extreme heat event data, defined as days when daily maximum temperature (TMAX) exceeded the 95th percentile values of TMAX for a 30-year reference period (1960-1989). We used logistic regression to investigate the associations between exposure to annual and seasonal extreme heat events and adult hay fever prevalence among the NHIS respondents. RESULTS During 1997-2013, hay fever prevalence among adults 18 years and older was 8.43%. Age, race/ethnicity, poverty status, education, and sex were significantly associated with hay fever status. We observed that adults in the highest quartile of exposure to extreme heat events had a 7% increased odds of hay fever compared with those in the lowest quartile of exposure (odds ratios: 1.07, 95% confidence interval: 1.02-1.11). This relationship was more pronounced for extreme heat events that occurred during spring season, with evidence of an exposure-response relationship (Ptrend < .01). CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that exposure to extreme heat events is associated with increased prevalence of hay fever among US adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal Romeo Upperman
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, Md; Marine Estuarine Environmental Science Program, College of Computer Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, Md
| | - Jennifer D Parker
- National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Md
| | - Lara J Akinbami
- National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Md
| | - Chengsheng Jiang
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, Md
| | - Xin He
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, Md
| | - Raghuram Murtugudde
- Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Md
| | - Frank C Curriero
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md
| | - Lewis Ziska
- Crop Systems and Global Change Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Md
| | - Amir Sapkota
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, Md.
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