Climate change to cause increase in allergies

by Rich Bowden - Aug 24 2009, 01:05

Increases in global temperatures and heightened levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will result in a similar increase in allergens and a spike in such conditions as asthma, according to Australian research.

A team led by Dr Paul Beggs, from the Department of Environment and Geography in the Faculty of Science at Macquarie University, found that increasing temperatures and changing rainfall patterns will impact directly on the incidence of asthma along with an increase in air-based allergens (such as pollen) and plant food allergens such as peanuts, according to an Australian Museum statement.

The Museum awarded Dr Beggs a prestigious Eureka award for his work in allergens and climate change.

"His research has sparked worldwide interest in the relationship between climate change and allergens," says Frank Howarth, Director of the Australian Museum at the award ceremony.

"Previously, climate change was not considered as a possible cause of the global increase in asthma, and there was limited appreciation of how it could affect allergenic diseases."

Dr Beggs has offered a number of explanations for the link between increased CO2 emissions and allegens.

"...some of the allergenic proteins generated by plants are responses to climatic stress," the Museum statement said quoting Dr Beggs findings.

"Carbon dioxide and temperature directly affect plant metabolism through photosynthesis; and higher CO2 concentrations cause many plants to have a higher weight of shoots or peanut pods."

Dr Beggs is continuing to examine the relationship through glasshouse study of CO2 and peanut allergen levels.

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