Climate change and allergies: what is the relationship?
“JÁ” newspaper, of the Inter-School Group Fernando Namora in Condeixa-a-Nova, interviewed immunoallergologist Luis Miguel Borrego to learn more about the relationship between climate change and allergies.
Jornal JÁ (JJ) – What is the relationship between allergies and climate change and why?
Luís Miguel Borrego (LMB) – Well, climate change has conditioned an increase of allergies, and why? Because as there are changes, particularly air pollution, this will cause the pollens to cling to diesel particles, causing people to have a greater likelihood to sensitise to these same pollens, and people who are allergic are also more likely to have seizures. Moreover, smoking and other factors that alter the environment are likely affect one's immune system to develop allergies. If we address climate change from one year to another, we know that whenever there is a very rainy winter, then in the following spring there will be a large afforestation, and the amount of pollen will increase significantly. JJ – What are the most common allergies related to climate change? LMB – The most common allergy is allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. The nasal symptoms of rhinitis are: sneezing, itchy throat and nose. About 35% of the Portuguese population has rhinitis, an allergic reaction to pollens and mites, which are more common. Another disease that is also common is asthma, although much less prevalent. Nevertheless 10% of the population has allergies or asthma ... 1 million people or even more in Portugal. JJ – Have allergies been increasing in the centre of the country? LMB – Yes, they have increased in recent years across the country. What we think is that this growth will stabilise in the forthcoming years because these allergies have increased not only due to our diet (more and more we eat less fruit, less vegetables and more junk food), but also due to genetic relationship and that environmental change (exposure to pollutants, smoking, ...), though it is believed that in the next 10 years it will stabilise and stop increasing. |
JJ – Who is more exposed to allergies, younger or older people?
LMB – The youngest are more exposed because there is an immaturity of the immune system, so the kids are the ones who are most vulnerable, and we even know that those who are exposed to tobacco smoke are much more likely to develop allergies. On the other hand, at the time of pregnancy, a woman must be immunosuppressed so as to not reject the baby, who shares identical genetics, and so that the transmission of the immune system in early life is made to the baby, who develops an immune system that is not protected. So, if exposed to germs, tobacco, etc. the baby is very likely to go on to develop allergies. JJ – How can or should a person prevent this? LMB – It depends, if we are talking about an allergic person who is aware of the fact, then the person must avoid outdoor activities, wear sunglasses, just open the windows in the evening... if you are allergic to dust mites, use cotton sheets (no blankets or flannel). It is a bit trickier if a person is to prevent a child from getting allergies because, as you know, it is related with genetics. There is a 40% probability that the son of a parent with allergies is also going to have allergies. If the father and mother are allergic, that probability goes up to 70%. After all, the key is to avoid exposure to tobacco smoke and be in the healthiest environment possible. |
Work by: Maria Dias, Raquel Lucas, Rebeca Gomes e Catarina Ferreira
9th Grade
Escola Secundária Fernando Namora (High School), Condeixa-a-Nova
This work was carried out under the Flash Seminar held on the 6th and the 22nd of May 2015 at Escola Secundária Fernando Namora (High School), in Condeixa-a-Nova. Students developed media content based on interviews with experts in various fields related to climate change and research on the subject.
9th Grade
Escola Secundária Fernando Namora (High School), Condeixa-a-Nova
This work was carried out under the Flash Seminar held on the 6th and the 22nd of May 2015 at Escola Secundária Fernando Namora (High School), in Condeixa-a-Nova. Students developed media content based on interviews with experts in various fields related to climate change and research on the subject.