Effects of Climate Change on Allergies and Dermal Diseases

Ø Most (89%, 41/46) of the major allergy and dermal diseases discussed here are affected by climate change in various ways and for a number of reasons.

Ø All of the 10 main anthropogenic climate change hazards cause aggravation of these diseases to a greater or lesser extent. These are: warming, heatwaves, fires, floods, storms, precipitation, sea level rise, natural land cover change, drought, and ocean climate change. In many cases, more than one hazard is at play for a given disease.

Ø Climate change effects have been shown to or are predicted to show changes in disease incidence, severity, frequency/seasonal duration, and/or geographical range.

Ø For allergy diseases, the major climate change-originating aggravating factors are: air pollution, biological aeroallergens (pollen, etc.), and temperature and humidity increases.

Ø For chronic inflammatory dermal diseases, the major climate change-originating aggravating factors are: increases in temperature, humidity and UVR exposure, flooding, storms, and psychological effects due to natural disasters.

Ø For infectious dermal diseases, the major climate change-originating aggravating factors are: temperature and humidity increases, flooding, and human migration caused by climate change.

Ø For skin malignancies, the major climate change-originating aggravating factors are: excess UVR exposure and nano-particulate air pollution.

Ø There is often a complex interplay between these various climatic hazards and the causes/triggers for a given disease.

Ø Prevention and mitigation of climate change-aggravated allergy and dermal diseases revolves around environmental, societal, and technological control methods, including:

1. Careful management/control of flora in and around highly populated areas.

2. Elimination of combustion air pollution sources in urban environments.

3. Surveillance, management and control of vegetation in rural areas to prevent wildfires.

4. Implementation of flood management and abatement measures.

5. Enhanced public awareness of allergy and dermal disease causes, prevention, and treatment.

6. Effective travel controls on people migrating/travelling from areas with endemic infectious skin diseases.

7. Automated monitoring methods and improved predictive atmospheric models for aeroallergens.

8. Development of allergen-specific immunotherapies, bacteriotherapies, and vaccines.

Prevention/mitigation methods and key take home messages