Impacts Of Climate Change On Allergens And Allergic Diseases

The authoritative assessment of the many climate change impacts on allergens and allergic diseases, for researchers, clinicians, students.

In this issue of Immunology & Allergy Clinics, guest editors Drs. Rosalind Wright and Jeffrey Demain bring their considerable expertise to the topic of Climate Change and Allergy. Warming temperatures and increasing carbon dioxide from fossil fuels are contributing to more intense allergies. In this issue, top experts discuss the effects of climate change, including its impacts to food, water, and both indoor and outdoor air. Contains 11 relevant, practice-oriented topics including nutrition and ecology; exposome and chemical exposure related to climate-related weather changes[RM1] ; psychological impacts of climate change and atopic disease; climate change and food allergy; extreme weather and asthma; and more. Provides in-depth clinical reviews on climate change and allergy, offering actionable insights for clinical practice. Presents the latest information on this timely, focused topic under the leadership of experienced editors in the field. Authors synthesize and distill the latest research and practice guidelines to create clinically significant, topic-based reviews.

This book presents a survey of the current state of knowledge of the potential impacts of climate change and variability on aeroallergens like pollen, mould, and indoor allergens in the United States and the allergic diseases associated with them. Allergies are prevalent in the United States and impose substantial economic and quality-of-life burdens. A recent nation-wide survey reported that 54.6% of people in the United States test positive for one or more allergens. Among specific allergens, dust mites, rye, ragweed, and cockroaches caused sensitisation in approximately 25% of the population. Allergies are the sixth most costly chronic disease category in the United States, collectively costing the health care system approximately $21 billion annually. The three main allergic diseases that have been associated with exposure to aeroallergens are allergic rhinitis (hay fever), asthma, and atopic dermatitis (eczema), which individually and collectively impose both substantial health effects and large economic burdens. The direct medical costs of asthma and allergic rhinitis (hay fever) are estimated to be $12.5 billion and $6.2 billion per year, respectively, and the direct medical costs of atopic dermatitis (eczema) are estimated to be $1.2−$5.9 billion per year. While data suggest that aeroallergen levels have remained relatively stable, the prevalence of allergic diseases in the United States has increased over the last 30 years, a trend that appears to be mirrored in other countries as well. The causes of this upward trend are as yet unclear. Because the economic impacts of allergic diseases associated with aeroallergens and the quality-of-life impacts on those individuals who suffer from them are already substantial, any climate change-induced enhancement or continuation of this trend in the United States would be of particular concern.

This issue of Immunology and Allergy Clinics, guest edited by Dr. Jae Won Oh, is devoted to Climate Change and Allergy. Articles in this issue include: Climate change and air pollution: Effects on respiratory allergy, Climate change and its direct and indirect effects on the allergy epidemic, Climate change, aeroallergens and allergic disease: the view from the southern hemisphere, Allergenic pollen season variations in the past two decades under changing climate in the United States, Climate Change and Pollen Allergy in India and the other South Asian Countries, Climate change: extreme weather events in Australia and their impact on allergic diseases, Climate change, air pollution and biodiversity in Asia Pacific and impact on allergic diseases, The Role of Extreme Weather and Climate Events on Asthma Outcomes, Insect migration and changes in venom allergy due to climate change, The impact of climate change on pollen allergy and sensitization rate to pollen, Effect of Climate Change on Allergenic Airborne Pollen in Japan for people with pollen allergy, Forecast for pollen allergy, and more.

This open access book identifies and discusses biodiversity’s contribution to physical, mental and spiritual health and wellbeing. Furthermore, the book identifies the implications of this relationship for nature conservation, public health, landscape architecture and urban planning – and considers the opportunities of nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation. This transdisciplinary book will attract a wide audience interested in biodiversity, ecology, resource management, public health, psychology, urban planning, and landscape architecture. The emphasis is on multiple human health benefits from biodiversity - in particular with respect to the increasing challenge of climate change. This makes the book unique to other books that focus either on biodiversity and physical health or natural environments and mental wellbeing. The book is written as a definitive ‘go-to’ book for those who are new to the field of biodiversity and health.

During the last two decades the increase in allergic diseases in children, such as atopic dermatitis and asthma, has been drastic. However, this is not true for the entire world: the incidence of allergies in children has risen only in developed countries. The observation of this socio-geographic discrepancy has led to careful study of the environmental differences that exist between the diverse settings in which children are born and has resulted in the so-called 'hygiene hypothesis': the 'sterility' of modern hospitals and birth places in the developed world might lead to a lack of microbial stimulation required for the development of a balanced mucosal immune response, including expansion of T-helper (Th) cell subsets that can mediate immune responses. Therefore, this workshop was held to consider in depth the environmental factors that influence the changing pattern of worldwide childhood allergy. This publication is a valuable source of knowledge and update for nutritionists, pediatricians, immunologists, microbiologists, as well as professionals concerned with preventive medicine.

More than 50 million Americans, one out of five, suffer from hay fever, asthma, and other allergic diseases. Many of these conditions are caused by exposure to allergens in indoor environments such as the house, work, and schoolâ€"where we spend as much as 98 percent of our time. Developed by medical, public health, and engineering professionals working together, this unique volume summarizes what is known about indoor allergens, how they affect human health, the magnitude of their effect on various populations, and how they can be controlled. The book addresses controversies, recommends research directions, and suggests how to assist and educate allergy patients, as well as professionals. Indoor Allergens presents a wealth of information about common indoor allergens and their varying effects, from significant hay fever to life-threatening asthma. The volume discusses sources of allergens, from fungi and dust mites to allergenic chemicals, plants, and animals, and examines practical measures for their control. Indoor Allergens discusses how the human airway and immune system respond to inhaled allergens and assesses patient testing methods, covering the importance of the patient's medical history and outlining procedures and approaches to interpretation for skin tests, in vitro diagnostic tests, and tests of patients' pulmonary function. This comprehensive and practical volume will be important to allergists and other health care providers; public health professionals; specialists in building design, construction, and maintenance; faculty and students in public health; and interested allergy patients.

This is the first book to summarize all aspects of allergenic pollen: production, atmospheric distribution, and health impacts, as well as the means of monitoring and forecasting these phenomena. Based on a four-year effort by a large group of leading European scientists, this book highlights the new developments in research on allergenic pollen, including the modelling prospects and effects of climate change. The multidisciplinary team of authors offers insights into the latest technology of detection of pollen and its allergenic properties, forecasting methods, and the influence of allergenic pollen on the population. The comprehensive coverage in this book makes it an indispensible volume for anyone dealing with allergenic pollen worldwide. Readers involved in environmental health, aerobiology, medicine, and plant science will find this book of interest.