Journal List > Allergy Asthma Respir Dis > v.6(2) > 1095721

Park: Air pollution and climate change: Effects on asthmatic patients

Abstract

Along with increases in global warming and air pollution, increased asthma prevalence has been reported in most Westernized regions. Air pollutants enhance IgE-mediated response to aeroallergens and increased airway inflammation. Climate changes including global warming have impact on asthma in a variety of ways. Many epidemiologic studies have shown that climate factors including temperature and humidity influence the severity of symptoms and exacerbation in asthmatic patients. Climate changes can lead to deterioration of air pollution and increase the production and allergenicity of pollens which can enhance airway inflammation. In asthmatic patients, health effects from air pollution and climate changes are complex and may be difficult to assess sepa-rately. Herein, recent studies on air pollution and climate factors in asthma are reviewed.

REFERENCES

1. Beggs PJ. Adaptation to impacts of climate change on aeroallergens and allergic respiratory diseases. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2010; 7:3006–21.
crossref
2.Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Core Writing Team. Pachauri RK., Meyer LA. Climate change 2014: synthesis report. Geneva (Switzerland); Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 2015. 151.
3. D'Amato G, Liccardi G, D'Amato M, Cazzola M. Outdoor air pollution, climatic changes and allergic bronchial asthma. Eur Respir J. 2002; 20:763–76.
4. National Climate Data Service System [Internet]. Daejeon (Korea): Korean Meteorological Administration;1991-2016. [cited 2017 Mar 23]. Available from. http://www.index.go.kr/main.do.
5. Atkinson RW, Anderson HR, Strachan DP, Bland JM, Bremner SA, Ponce de Leon A. Short-term associations between outdoor air pollution and visits to accident and emergency departments in London for respiratory complaints. Eur Respir J. 1999; 13:257–65.
crossref
6. Cacciola RR, Sarvà M, Polosa R. Adverse respiratory effects and allergic susceptibility in relation to particulate air pollution: flirting with disaster. Allergy. 2002; 57:281–6.
crossref
7. Miller KA, Siscovick DS, Sheppard L, Shepherd K, Sullivan JH, Anderson GL, et al. Long-term exposure to air pollution and incidence of cardiovascular events in women. N Engl J Med. 2007; 356:447–58.
crossref
8. Brunekreef B, Hoek G, Fischer P, Spieksma FT. Relation between airborne pollen concentrations and daily cardiovascular and respiratory-disease mortality. Lancet. 2000; 355:1517–8.
crossref
9. Künzli N, Kaiser R, Medina S, Studnicka M, Chanel O, Filliger P, et al. Public-health impact of outdoor and traffic-related air pollution: a European assessment. Lancet. 2000; 356:795–801.
crossref
10. Bowatte G, Lodge C, Lowe AJ, Erbas B, Perret J, Abramson MJ, et al. The influence of childhood traffic-related air pollution exposure on asthma, allergy and sensitization: a systematic review and a metaanalysis of birth cohort studies. Allergy. 2015; 70:245–56.
crossref
11. Silverman RA, Ito K. Age-related association of fine particles and ozone with severe acute asthma in New York City. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010; 125:367–73.
crossref
12. Malig BJ, Green S, Basu R, Broadwin R. Coarse particles and respiratory emergency department visits in California. Am J Epidemiol. 2013; 178:58–69.
crossref
13. Jo EJ, Lee WS, Jo HY, Kim CH, Eom JS, Mok JH, et al. Effects of particulate matter on respiratory disease and the impact of meteorological factors in Busan, Korea. Respir Med. 2017; 124:79–87.
crossref
14. Park M, Luo S, Kwon J, Stock TH, Delclos G, Kim H, et al. Effects of air pollution on asthma hospitalization rates in different age groups in metropolitan cities of Korea. Air Qual Atmos Health. 2013; 6:543–51.
crossref
15. Atkinson RW, Anderson HR, Sunyer J, Ayres J, Baccini M, Vonk JM, et al. Acute effects of particulate air pollution on respiratory admissions: results from APHEA 2 project. Air Pollution and Health: a European Approach. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2001; 164(10 Pt 1):1860–6.
16. Alhanti BA, Chang HH, Winquist A, Mulholland JA, Darrow LA, Sarnat SE. Ambient air pollution and emergency department visits for asthma: a multi-city assessment of effect modification by age. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2016; 26:180–8.
crossref
17. Kim SH, Son JY, Lee JT, Kim TB, Park HW, Lee JH, et al. Effect of air pollution on acute exacerbation of adult asthma in Seoul, Korea: a case-crossover study. Korean J Med. 2010; 78:450–6.
18. Kwon JW, Han YJ, Oh MK, Lee CY, Kim JY, Kim EJ, et al. Emergency Department visits for asthma exacerbation due to weather conditions and air pollution in Chuncheon, Korea: a case-crossover analysis. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2016; 8:512–21.
crossref
19. D'Amato G. Airborne paucimicronic allergen-carrying particles and seasonal respiratory allergy. Allergy. 2001; 56:1109–11.
20. Nordenhäll C, Pourazar J, Ledin MC, Levin JO, Sandström T, Adelroth E. Diesel exhaust enhances airway responsiveness in asthmatic subjects. Eur Respir J. 2001; 17:909–15.
crossref
21. Kim BJ, Lee SY, Kwon JW, Jung YH, Lee E, Yang SI, et al. Traffic-related air pollution is associated with airway hyperresponsiveness. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014; 133:1763–5.e2.
crossref
22. Sacks JD, Rappold AG, Davis JA Jr, Richardson DB, Waller AE, Luben TJ. Influence of urbanicity and county characteristics on the association between ozone and asthma emergency department visits in North Caroli-na. Environ Health Perspect. 2014; 122:506–12.
crossref
23. Lam HC, Li AM, Chan EY, Goggins WB 3rd. The short-term association between asthma hospitalisations, ambient temperature, other meteorological factors and air pollutants in Hong Kong: a time-series study. Thorax. 2016; 71:1097–109.
crossref
24. Strickland MJ, Darrow LA, Klein M, Flanders WD, Sarnat JA, Waller LA, et al. Short-term associations between ambient air pollutants and pediatric asthma emergency department visits. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2010; 182:307–16.
crossref
25. Mar TF, Koenig JQ. Relationship between visits to emergency departments for asthma and ozone exposure in greater Seattle, Washington. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2009; 103:474–9.
crossref
26. Holz O, Mücke M, Paasch K, Böhme S, Timm P, Richter K, et al. Repeated ozone exposures enhance bronchial allergen responses in subjects with rhinitis or asthma Clin Exp Allergy. 2002; 32:681–9.
27. Vagaggini B, Taccola M, Cianchetti S, Carnevali S, Bartoli ML, Bacci E, et al. Ozone exposure increases eosinophilic airway response induced by previous allergen challenge. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002; 166:1073–7.
crossref
28. McConnell R, Berhane K, Gilliland F, London SJ, Islam T, Gauderman WJ, et al. Asthma in exercising children exposed to ozone: a cohort study. Lancet. 2002; 359:386–91.
crossref
29. Chen KS, Ho YT, Lai CH, Tsai YA, Chen SJ. Trends in concentration of ground-level ozone and meteorological conditions during high ozone episodes in the Kao-Ping Airshed, Taiwan. J Air Waste Manag Assoc. 2004; 54:36–48.
crossref
30. Bauer MA, Utell MJ, Morrow PE, Speers DM, Gibb FR. Inhalation of 0.30 ppm nitrogen dioxide potentiates exercise-induced bronchospasm in asthmatics. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1986; 134:1203–8.
31. Goldstein IF, Lieber K, Andrews LR, Kazembe F, Foutrakis G, Huang P, et al. Acute respiratory effects of short-term exposures to nitrogen dioxide. Arch Environ Health. 1988; 43:138–42.
crossref
32. Mölter A, Agius R, de Vocht F, Lindley S, Gerrard W, Custovic A, et al. Effects of long-term exposure to PM10 and NO2 on asthma and wheeze in a prospective birth cohort. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2014; 68:21–8.
33. Tunnicliffe WS, Burge PS, Ayres JG. Effect of domestic concentrations of nitrogen dioxide on airway responses to inhaled allergen in asthmatic patients. Lancet. 1994; 344:1733–6.
crossref
34. Hazucha MJ, Ginsberg JF, McDonnell WF, Haak ED Jr, Pimmel RL, Sa-laam SA, et al. Effects of 0.1 ppm nitrogen dioxide on airways of normal and asthmatic subjects. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol. 1983; 54:730–9.
crossref
35. Khreis H, Kelly C, Tate J, Parslow R, Lucas K, Nieuwenhuijsen M. Exposure to traffic-related air pollution and risk of development of childhood asthma: a systematic review and metaanalysis. Environ Int. 2017; 100:1–31.
crossref
36. Cai Y, Zijlema WL, Doiron D, Blangiardo M, Burton PR, Fortier I, et al. Ambient air pollution, traffic noise and adult asthma prevalence: a BioSHaRE approach. Eur Respir J. 2017; 49(1):pii: 1502127.https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.02127-2015.
crossref
37. Bowatte G, Lodge CJ, Knibbs LD, Lowe AJ, Erbas B, Dennekamp M, et al. Traffic-related air pollution exposure is associated with allergic sensitization, asthma, and poor lung function in middle age. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2017; 139:122–9.
crossref
38. Sheppard D, Wong WS, Uehara CF, Nadel JA, Boushey HA. Lower threshold and greater bronchomotor responsiveness of asthmatic subjects to sulfur dioxide. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1980; 122:873–8.
39. Kehrl HR, Roger LJ, Hazucha MJ, Horstman DH. Differing response of asthmatics to sulfur dioxide exposure with continuous and intermittent exercise. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1987; 135:350–5.
40. Sheppard D, Saisho A, Nadel JA, Boushey HA. Exercise increases sulfur dioxide-induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatic subjects. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1981; 123:486–91.
41. Winterton DL, Kaufman J, Keener CV, Quigley S, Farin FM, Williams PV, et al. Genetic polymorphisms as biomarkers of sensitivity to inhaled sulfur dioxide in subjects with asthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2001; 86:232–8.
crossref
42. Khalaj B, Lloyd G, Sheppeard V, Dear K. The health impacts of heat waves in five regions of New South Wales, Australia: a case-only analysis. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2010; 83:833–42.
crossref
43. Soneja S, Jiang C, Fisher J, Upperman CR, Mitchell C, Sapkota A. Exposure to extreme heat and precipitation events associated with increased risk of hospitalization for asthma in Maryland, U.S.A. Environ Health. 2016; 15:57.
crossref
44. Wang YC, Lin YK. Temperature effects on outpatient visits of respiratory diseases, asthma, and chronic airway obstruction in Taiwan. Int J Biometeorol. 2015; 59:815–25.
crossref
45. Beard JD, Beck C, Graham R, Packham SC, Traphagan M, Giles RT, et al. Winter temperature inversions and emergency department visits for asthma in Salt Lake County, Utah, 2003-2008. Environ Health Perspect. 2012; 120:1385–90.
crossref
46. Kim S, Kim Y, Lee MR, Kim J, Jung A, Park JS, et al. Winter season temperature drops and sulfur dioxide levels affect on exacerbation of refractory asthma in South Korea: a time-trend controlled case-crossover study using soonchunhyang asthma cohort data. J Asthma. 2012; 49:679–87.
crossref
47. Son JY, Bell ML, Lee JT. The impact of heat, cold, and heat waves on hospital admissions in eight cities in Korea. Int J Biometeorol. 2014; 58:1893–903.
crossref
48. Kim J, Lim Y, Kim H. Outdoor temperature changes and emergency department visits for asthma in Seoul, Korea: a time-series study. Environ Res. 2014; 135:15–20.
crossref
49. Qiu H, Yu IT, Tse LA, Chan EY, Wong TW, Tian L. Greater temperature variation within a day associated with increased emergency hospital admissions for asthma. Sci Total Environ. 2015; 505:508–13.
crossref
50. D'Amato G, Liccardi G, Frenguelli G. Thunderstorm-asthma and pollen allergy. Allergy. 2007; 62:11–6.
51. D'Amato G, Cecchi L, Annesi-Maesano I. A trans-disciplinary overview of case reports of thunderstorm-related asthma outbreaks and relapse. Eur Respir Rev. 2012; 21:82–7.
52. Dales RE, Cakmak S, Judek S, Dann T, Coates F, Brook JR, et al. The role of fungal spores in thunderstorm asthma. Chest. 2003; 123:745–50.
53. Pulimood TB, Corden JM, Bryden C, Sharples L, Nasser SM. Epidemic asthma and the role of the fungal mold Alternaria alternata. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007; 120:610–7.
crossref
54. Ziska LH, Beggs PJ. Anthropogenic climate change and allergen exposure: the role of plant biology. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012; 129:27–32.
55. D'Amato G, Cecchi L, Bonini S, Nunes C, Annesi-Maesano I, Behrendt H, et al. Allergenic pollen and pollen allergy in Europe. Allergy. 2007; 62:976–90.
56. Steinvil A, Fireman E, Kordova-Biezuner L, Cohen M, Shapira I, Berliner S, et al. Environmental air pollution has decremental effects on pulmonary function test parameters up to one week after exposure. Am J Med Sci. 2009; 338:273–9.
crossref
57. Kim JH, Oh JW, Lee HB, Kim SW, Chung HL, Kook MH, et al. Evaluation of the association of vegetation of allergenic plants and pollinosis with meteorological changes. Allergy Asthma Respir Dis. 2014; 2:48–58.
crossref
58. Motta AC, Marliere M, Peltre G, Sterenberg PA, Lacroix G. Traffic-related air pollutants induce the release of allergen-containing cytoplasmic gran-ules from grass pollen. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2006; 139:294–8.
crossref

Table 1.
Effects of climate change on asthma
Affect types and extents of air pollution
 Increase exposure to pollens
 Increase exposure to mold allergens
 Induce extreme weather and thunderstorm
Table 2.
Suggested mechanism of the effect of climate change on pollen allergy
Rapid growth of plants
 Increase in the amount of pollen production
 Increase allergenicity of pollen
 Increase the exposure to pollen: earlier and longer duration of pollen season
TOOLS
Similar articles