Science Source

Climate change and allergic disease

States climate change is potentially the largest global threat to human health ever encountered
States that if current emissions and land use trends continue unchecked, the next generations will face more injury, disease, and death related to natural disasters and heat waves, higher rates of climate-related infections, and wide-spread malnutrition, as well as more allergic and air pollution-related morbidity and mortality
Highlights links between global climate change and anticipated increases in prevalence and severity of asthma and related allergic disease mediated through worsening ambient air pollution and altered local and regional pollen production
States the pattern of change will vary regionally depending on latitude, altitude, rainfall and storms, land-use patterns, urbanization, transportation, and energy production
Suggests a number of practical primary and secondary prevention strategies are suggested at the end of the review to assist in meeting this unprecedented public health challenge