Asthma, Allergy and Immunology

Biography

Biography: Vincenzo Patella

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that air pollution is associated with climate change and in particular with global warming. Moreover, the air pollution effects on airway and lung diseases were well documented in the past by a statement of the World Allergy Organization. Literatures were searched for the effects of interaction between air pollution and climate change on allergic and respiratory diseases. Since 1990 articles and reviews have been published on this topic and a large number of studies confirm that the warming of our planet is caused by the greenhouse effect, due to increased greenhouse gas emissions. However, air pollution is closely linked to global warming, the emissions of hydrocarbons combustion residues induce a growth also in the concentration of biological allergens such as pollen, generating a mixture of these micrometer particles, called PM. Understanding the mechanisms that make PM fraction a major cause of health problems is still a controversial issue. Several studies are trying to figure out the reasons of global warming. There is evidence that the raising of the concentration of pollen and air pollutants is able to activate the inflammatory mediators in the airways. Several studies underscore the major risks of global warming on human health due to increasing concentrations of air pollution. The impact of climate change on respiratory diseases appears well documented. Over the last decades, a rise in the concentration of pollen as well as air pollution has been registered. These phenomena are in parallel with an increasing number of people showing allergic symptoms (e.g. allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis and asthma) which often lead to emergency medical care. Scientists of different disciplines should work together with institutions, pharmaceutical companies and lay organizations to limit the adverse health effects of air pollution and global warming.