Illness cracked : Respiratory diseases linked to climate change
Researcher stresses need for creating awareness about the link
PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
For years, scientists and medical professionals have been working hard to find the cause behind idiopathic seasonal respiratory diseases and skin allergies. However, their specific root cause has never been highlighted by anyone due to a lack of knowledge and resources.
Professor Dr Ishaq Khan, though, seems to have found the missing link: climate change.
After extensive research, Dr Ishaq and his team have concluded that there was a massive impact of weather patterns, pollens and airborne pollutants on the spread of these allergies.
"Over the past three decades, global temperature has been rising markedly. This temperature increase has been the result of warming ocean temperatures, rising sea levels, melting glaciers, retreating sea ice and diminished snow cover in the northern hemisphere," he said, as he called for developing general awareness in the society regarding the relationship between climate change, allergic and respiratory diseases.
During the heat waves of 2003, 2012 and 2013, temperatures of over 35°Celsius resulted in several thousands of deaths throughout Europe. Most of the observed rise in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the documented rise in environmental pollution and greenhouse gas concentrations, he added.
“This aggressive climatic change is associated with respiratory and allergic disorders. The increased length and severity of the pollen season, the higher occurrence of heavy precipitation events such as rainfall and the increasing frequency of urban population are resulting in major environmental hazards that are lethal to human life," he maintained.
"In order to reduce the burden of allergic and respiratory symptoms, we must act to control environmental factors that worsen these conditions.
The occurrence of allergic rhinitis (also known as coryza) causes irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nose. Common symptoms are a stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing, and post-nasal drip and asthma, which varies with atmospheric conditions.
Air pollution consisting of particulate matter (such as dust mites, organic dust substances, diesel exhaust and organic salts) and atmospheric pollens blunt an individual's immune system that eventually results in enhancement of allergic and respiratory diseases for instance particulate matter resulting from the burning of fuel or organic matter increases allergen-specific [Immunoglobulin IgE], a type of antibody that causes airway inflammation and hypersensitivity," Dr Ishaq said.
Global warming, he said has a tremendous economic and health care impact in the form of loss of working hours and increased need for care among privileged populations.
A thunderstorm is another environmental hazard that induces severe asthma attacks in allergy-sensitive patients. After every thunderstorm, pollen grains may release part of their cytoplasmic contents including inhalable allergen particles. In addition to enhanced pollen production, massive climatic change alters the number of fungal allergens in the atmosphere.
"These fungal spores cause allergic rhinitis and worsen asthmatic attack in patients,” he explained.
Increased carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere due to excessive production of black smoke, CCF's and coal, favours the production of fungal spores. These environmental pollutants are extremely hazardous to human life.
Increased rainfall during extremes of weather promotes mould production both indoors and outdoors that in return worsens allergic diseases in allergy sensitive individuals, he added.
"Air-pollution related asthma exacerbation is due to climatic factors that favour the accumulation of air pollutants at soil level. The ongoing increase in air pollution encourages the growth of poison ivy which secretes urishiol, a compound that causes contact dermatitis," he said.
Dr Ishaq said that these skin allergies such as hives, urticaria, contact dermatitis, hay fever, and eczema are completely curable provided that we opt for reasonable and self- assuring treatment options similarly respiratory diseases such as asthma are curable as well.
We have been working on these diseases for many years and we have achieved maximum cure with minimum but effective medication having no side effects. He said a better and secure life is just a step ahead; take that step as soon as possible. According to the environmental health philosophy versus ozone health, excessive plantation of native plants securing deepwater reservoirs is the best approach towards securing our health and the health of upcoming generations at large.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2018.
For years, scientists and medical professionals have been working hard to find the cause behind idiopathic seasonal respiratory diseases and skin allergies. However, their specific root cause has never been highlighted by anyone due to a lack of knowledge and resources.
Professor Dr Ishaq Khan, though, seems to have found the missing link: climate change.
After extensive research, Dr Ishaq and his team have concluded that there was a massive impact of weather patterns, pollens and airborne pollutants on the spread of these allergies.
"Over the past three decades, global temperature has been rising markedly. This temperature increase has been the result of warming ocean temperatures, rising sea levels, melting glaciers, retreating sea ice and diminished snow cover in the northern hemisphere," he said, as he called for developing general awareness in the society regarding the relationship between climate change, allergic and respiratory diseases.
During the heat waves of 2003, 2012 and 2013, temperatures of over 35°Celsius resulted in several thousands of deaths throughout Europe. Most of the observed rise in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the documented rise in environmental pollution and greenhouse gas concentrations, he added.
“This aggressive climatic change is associated with respiratory and allergic disorders. The increased length and severity of the pollen season, the higher occurrence of heavy precipitation events such as rainfall and the increasing frequency of urban population are resulting in major environmental hazards that are lethal to human life," he maintained.
"In order to reduce the burden of allergic and respiratory symptoms, we must act to control environmental factors that worsen these conditions.
The occurrence of allergic rhinitis (also known as coryza) causes irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane inside the nose. Common symptoms are a stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing, and post-nasal drip and asthma, which varies with atmospheric conditions.
Air pollution consisting of particulate matter (such as dust mites, organic dust substances, diesel exhaust and organic salts) and atmospheric pollens blunt an individual's immune system that eventually results in enhancement of allergic and respiratory diseases for instance particulate matter resulting from the burning of fuel or organic matter increases allergen-specific [Immunoglobulin IgE], a type of antibody that causes airway inflammation and hypersensitivity," Dr Ishaq said.
Global warming, he said has a tremendous economic and health care impact in the form of loss of working hours and increased need for care among privileged populations.
A thunderstorm is another environmental hazard that induces severe asthma attacks in allergy-sensitive patients. After every thunderstorm, pollen grains may release part of their cytoplasmic contents including inhalable allergen particles. In addition to enhanced pollen production, massive climatic change alters the number of fungal allergens in the atmosphere.
"These fungal spores cause allergic rhinitis and worsen asthmatic attack in patients,” he explained.
Increased carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere due to excessive production of black smoke, CCF's and coal, favours the production of fungal spores. These environmental pollutants are extremely hazardous to human life.
Increased rainfall during extremes of weather promotes mould production both indoors and outdoors that in return worsens allergic diseases in allergy sensitive individuals, he added.
"Air-pollution related asthma exacerbation is due to climatic factors that favour the accumulation of air pollutants at soil level. The ongoing increase in air pollution encourages the growth of poison ivy which secretes urishiol, a compound that causes contact dermatitis," he said.
Dr Ishaq said that these skin allergies such as hives, urticaria, contact dermatitis, hay fever, and eczema are completely curable provided that we opt for reasonable and self- assuring treatment options similarly respiratory diseases such as asthma are curable as well.
We have been working on these diseases for many years and we have achieved maximum cure with minimum but effective medication having no side effects. He said a better and secure life is just a step ahead; take that step as soon as possible. According to the environmental health philosophy versus ozone health, excessive plantation of native plants securing deepwater reservoirs is the best approach towards securing our health and the health of upcoming generations at large.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2018.