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available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.124-A70.
Pollen Overload
Seasonal Allergies in a Changing Climate
Several intertwined factors influence how a plant grows and how much pollen it produces. Projected rises in two of
theseregional temperatures and atmospheric CO2 levelscould mean an increase in the number of people affected by
seasonal allergies. Joe Petersburger/Getty
W
atery red eyes, runny nose, sneezing, symptoms in most cases dont trigger emergency room
coughingthese familiar symptoms visits or other types of medical care.
mean spring is in the air. Millions There is evidence suggesting that hay fever prevalence
of people suffer from seasonal aller- is rising in many parts of the world, particularly in urban
gies triggered by airborne pollen areas, although some of the most recently published stud-
not just in spring but in summer and fall, tooand now ies date back to the late 1990s.7,8,9 A newer report from
evidence suggests their numbers will rise in a changing Frances Rhne-Alpes Center of Epidemiology and Health
climate. The evidence so far is preliminary, but it points Prevention shows that hay fever prevalence rose from 8%
to a confluence of factors that favor longer growing sea- of the local population in 2004 to 12% in 2015.10 Michel
sons for the noxious weeds and other plants that trigger Thiboudon, director of the French National Aerobio-
seasonal allergies and asthma attacks. Carbon dioxide logical Monitoring Network, attributes the rising preva-
(CO2), in addition to being the lence to increased exposures
principal global warming gas, to highly allergenic ragweed.
can also be thought of as plant Climate change has been pro-
foodits the source of carbon jected to accelerate ragweeds
needed to make sugars during spread throughout the Euro-
photosynthesis.1 When exposed pean continent.11
to warmer temperatures and Bielory says its likely that
higher levels of CO2 , plants other environmental factors,
grow more vigorously and pro- such as changing diets and bet-
duce more pollen than they ter hygiene, contribute to the
otherwise would.1,2 prevalence of asthma and hay
Physicians who treat aller- fever by limiting early expo-
gic airway diseases are already sure to allergens and altering
reporting an uptick in symp- the immune systems normal
toms that they attribute to cli- development. However, much
mate change. 3 In a statement remains unknown about the
published last year, the World relationship between aeroaller-
Allergy Organization, compris- gens and exacerbation of asth-
ing 97 medical societies from ma, especially less severe attacks
around the world, opined that that arent reflected in hospital
climate change will affect the visit data.12
start, duration, and intensity Seasonal allergies in North
of the pollen season and exac- Pollen (gold spheres) is produced by the sta- America generally begin in
erbate the synergistic effects mens (gray), which are the male reproductive spring, when trees begin to
of pollutants and respiratory organ of flowering plants. Pollen grains are flower and disperse their aller-
infections on asthma.4 covered in proteins that assist in reproduction genic pollen into the airthey
Were seeing increases in but also trigger allergic reactions in sensitized include, among others, oak
both the number of people with people. Martin Oeggerli /Science Source and birch in the South and
allergies and what theyre aller- Northeast and mountain cedar
gic to, says Leonard Bielory, a professor and allergy spe- in the West. Late spring and early summer bring the
cialist at the Rutgers University Center of Environmental emergence of various allergenic grasses and weeds, such
Prediction and attending physician at Robert Wood John- as mugwort and nettle, which introduces another round
son University Hospital. Should warming continue, he of symptoms. The ragweed season comes last, starting in
says, then more people will be exposed to seasonal aller- late summer and persisting until the plants die with the
gens with subsequent effects on public health. first frost.13 A resurgence in grass pollen also occurs in
early fall, Bielory says.
Allergies on the Rise Pollen grains contain the male gametes (sperm cells)
Seasonal allergies and asthma impose significant health of the flowering plant; they are covered in proteins that
burdens, with an estimated 1030% of the global female gametes of the same species will recognize. Its
population afflicted by allergic rhinitis (or hay fever) and those same coating proteins that trigger allergic reac-
300 million people worldwide affected by asthma.5 Trend tions in sensitized people, with the degree of sensitization
data suggest that the prevalence of asthma, including varying among individuals. According to Lewis Ziska,
forms of the disease triggered by pollen, mold, and other a research plant physiologist with the U.S. Department
allergenic substances, is on the rise. Childhood asthma of Agriculture (USDA), the intensity of an allergic reac-
rates in the United States, for instance, doubled from tion depends on three interrelated factors: how much
1980 to 1995 before slowing to a more gradual (albeit pollen a given species emits into the air, the duration of
ongoing) increase. 6 Kate Weinberger, a postdoctoral exposure, and the allergenicity of the pollen. In ragweed
associate at Brown University, says trends in seasonal these factors coalesce in a perfect storm of allergic misery.
allergy prevalence are more difficult to track because Whats unique about ragweed is that it produces so much
0 50 100 500 1,000 2,500 5,000 7,500 10,000 12,500 15,000 20,000 25,000
Using two different climate models, researchers modeled historical levels of ragweed
States, says Richard Flagan, a professor pollen in Europe (frames a/b), then projected increases by 2050 (frames c/d and e/f).
of environmental science and engineering Some areas saw a projected fourfold jump. Source: Hamaoui-Laguel et al. (2015)11
at the California Institute of Technology.
He says thats chiefly because European
national weather agencies take responsibil- Flagan describes his efforts to access The Council of State and Territorial Epi-
ity for sampling and organizing the infor- NAB data as an exercise in frustration demiologists, a professional association for
mation in ways that scientists can use for that was frequently met with unanswered public health epidemiologists, has proposed
research. phone calls and e-mails. Moreover, the way such a system in a draft white paper that
By contrast, pollen sampling in the these stations collect data isnt compatible it plans to finalize at its June 2016 annual
United States is performed by a constella- with science, he says. We have at best a conference.
tion of agencies and allergy clinics. Cur- semi-qualitative historical record supplied
rently 84 of these sampling stations submit by people who do not focus on the statistics Lab Results Hint at
their data to a volunteer organization called of the measurementthat record has some Possibilities
the National Allergy Bureau (NAB), scientific value, but you have to look at it Even as researchers grapple with limited
which is organized by the American Acad- with a big grain of salt. In reality, the pollen field data, they continue to produce
emy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology database in the United States is abysmal. compelling results in climate-controlled
(AAAAI).22 Bielory says the AAAAI pro- The USDAs Ziska says the NAB has chambers that predict future effects on
vides quality control in the form of training become more cooperative and responsive allergenic species. In her research at the
and certification for contributors on how to to the needs of outside researchers. But he University of Massachusetts Amherst,
sample airborne pollen. adds that since NAB sampling stations use Kristina Stinson, an assistant professor
The NAB provides daily pollen counts different tools and methodologies to collect of environmental conservation, grows
to local media outlets, but it wont release pollen, rather than one uniform system, ragweed in greenhouses containing CO2
any data for research without the consent their data can be difficult to aggregate and at levels ranging from 360 ppmjust
of the sampling stations that collected it. compare. under the current ambient concentration
To access those data, scientists have to Bielory, who contributes to the NAB, to 720 ppm. Stinson says higher CO 2
submit formal requests describing their agrees on the need for a national monitor- levels could force evolutionary changes
research plans.23 The NAB passes approved ing system that collects, stores, analyzes, in ragweed. A study she published in
requests to the appropriate member sta- and shares pollen data for the purpose of 2011 showed that genotypes that are
tions, which have 30 days to respond. advancing science and health policy issues. suppressed at current CO2 levels devoted