Could Climate Change Affect Allergies?

Recent study suggests some pollutants can make airborne allergens more irritating.

President Obama recently made headlines after seeming to blame his daughter Malia’s asthma on climate change. While experts point out that in Malia’s case, second-hand smoke from her father’s hair, skin, and clothing would be a more likely contributing factor to her childhood asthma attacks, nonetheless the President’s words have raised a question in many people’s minds:

Could Climate Change Affect Asthma and Allergies?

This question has been interesting researchers for many years now, especially in light of the rise in the incidence of seasonal nasal allergies and asthma among people of all walks of life.

One recent study has pinpointed one way in which pollution (if not climate change itself) can affect the severity of allergic reactions.

The study, which was conducted at the Max Planck Institute in Germany, focused on two common air pollutants that may be helping to warm the planet at an unnatural rate, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. The researchers studied how these gases interact with a common allergen found in birch pollen.

What Does Ozone Do to Allergens?

Using lab tests and computer modeling, the researchers discovered that ozone causes an amino acid in the birch pollen to oxidize. This sets off a chain reaction that alters the structures of proteins in the allergen and makes those proteins more potent allergens.

What Does Nitrogen Dioxide Do to Allergens?

Nitrogen dioxide, a gas commonly found in car exhaust, can also alter the chemical structure of allergens. The researchers discovered that exposure to the gas seemed to alter the polarity of proteins in the birch pollen, which affected their binding capabilities. The researchers predict that these changes (especially combined with the changes wrought by ozone) could make the body present a stronger immune response to the allergen, especially in a humid or wet environment.

What Should You Do?

The study authors plan to conduct additional research to study the effect of nitrogen dioxide and ozone on other allergens, and to study the effect of altered allergens on the human immune system.

Fortunately, you don’t need to wait for the results of all this research to come out to get help for your existing allergy symptoms. After all, when it comes down to it, figuring out how an allergen was formed is not as important as figuring out how to give you relief from itchy eyes, runny nose, congestion, headache, and other common allergy symptoms.

We invite you to make an appointment at one of our convenient clinic locations to get professional allergy care, including the latest medications and treatments as approved by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.