Climate change and allergic diseases: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Public Health
• Immunology

Background:

• Greenhouse gas emissions drive global warming and extreme climate events.
• Climate change adversely impacts human health, increasing disease risks, including allergies.
• Understanding environmental and molecular mechanisms is key for adaptation and mitigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the literature on climate change and its impact on allergic diseases.
• To identify environmental factors and cellular/molecular mechanisms linking climate change to allergies.
• To inform strategies for adapting to and mitigating climate change-related allergies.

Main Methods:

• Scoping review of scientific literature.
• Literature search conducted in PubMed and Scopus databases.
• Review covered publications from 2010 to 2024.

Main Results:

• Climate change factors like thunderstorms, dust storms, and wildfires increase allergies.
• Allergies are exacerbated directly and indirectly via particulate matter, pollen, and reduced biodiversity.
• Hypotheses include epithelial barrier, hygiene, "old friends," and biodiversity.

Conclusions:

• Urgent reduction of fossil fuel use is necessary to mitigate climate change and protect health.
• International agreements need enhanced efforts to meet climate goals.
• Evidence-based adaptation and mitigation strategies for allergies are required.