The effects of global warming on allergic diseases

Abstract

Global warming is a public health emergency. Substantial scientific evidence indicates an unequivocal rising trend in global surface temperature that has caused higher atmospheric levels of moisture retention leading to more frequent extreme weather conditions, shrinking ice volume, and gradually rising sea levels. The concomitant rise in the prevalence of allergic diseases is closely related to these environmental changes because warm and moist environments favour the proliferation of common allergens such as pollens, dust mites, molds, and fungi. Global warming also stresses ecosystems, further accelerating critical biodiversity loss. Excessive carbon dioxide, together with the warming of seawater, promotes ocean acidification and oxygen depletion. This results in a progressive decline of phytoplankton and fish growth that in turn promotes the formation of larger oceanic dead zones, disrupting the food chain and biodiversity. Poor environmental biodiversity and a reduction in the microbiome spectrum are risk factors for allergic diseases in human populations. While climate change and the existence of an allergy epidemic are closely linked according to robust international research, efforts to mitigate these have encountered strong resistance because of vested economic and political concerns in different countries. International collaboration to establish legally binding regulations should be mandatory for forest protection and energy saving. Lifestyle and behavioural changes should also be advocated at the individual level by focusing on low carbon living; avoiding food wastage; and implementing the 4Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle, and replace principles. These lifestyle measures are entirely consistent with the current recommendations for allergy prevention. Efforts to mitigate climate change, preserve biodiversity, and prevent chronic diseases are interdependent disciplines.

Increasing temperature elevates the variation and spatial differentiation of pesticide tolerance in a plant pathogen

“…infestans (Figure 4). This raises further concerns that the erosion of pesticide efficacy may be escalated under global warming (Chan et al, 2018; Shuman, 2011).…”

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“…The third reason can be attributed to a drop in humidity as a result of recent droughts which have influenced the moister content of the air and as a result the mite growth cycle. Climate changes have resulted in new trends in mite growth (32).…”

Ocean Acidification and Human Health

“…While some consumers may try to obtain other similar products, ocean acidification will impact entire classes of fisheries, making it harder for people to source these products. In some countries or regions, this will mean there are fewer or even no alternatives available [84], while other regions will have alternatives that are less expensive but likely unhealthy and processed with more added artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives [85]. Such inability to access suitable alternative food sources will be detrimental where food quantity and nutritional value is affected, as well as where food safety is impaired.…”