Climate change is a result of industrialised human activity severely impacting our health and environment. While many actions have been taken to inform about and tackle climate change effects on the environment, the impact that air pollution, manufacturing and farming have on our health remain unaddressed.
Allergy is the most common chronic disease in Europe, with 20% prevalence in the population (1). The disease has been neglected to date because patients have been coping with their symptoms, even if severe, without much support. But the burden allergy is posing to our lives is getting worse (2). If no action is taken to stop the allergy epidemic, 1 in 2 Europeans will suffer from allergy by 2025 with no age, social or geographical distinction (3). Allergic symptoms are set to worsen due to climate change, as air pollution increases the aggressiveness of pollen particles and extends the reproductive season of plants.
Ragweed is one of the main plants making our body react negatively. It is an invasive plant of North American origin that is costing Europe alone 3.5 billion Euro per year on medication to ease the allergic symptoms it provokes (4). Ragweed is spreading quickly and its highly allergenic pollen can be transported by wind over far distances. Air concentrations of allergenic ragweed pollen could quadruple in Europe by 2050 (5).
International Ragweed Society (IRS) President Dr. Maira Bonini said: "Health problems due to ragweed are underestimated. On the International Ragweed Day next 27 June, we call for a European legislation to tackle the problems due to ragweed, including management practices against this plant and pollen monitoring to measure their success reducing the health risks".
Today, EU legislation excludes pollen monitoring because pollen is not considered a result of human activities. Although pollen emissions and aggressiveness are mostly a consequence of massive farming, air pollution, and city planning, the European Union does not require Member States to collect this information and communicate it to the public (6). European measures to control human-made pollen emissions seem unrealistic.
European Aerobiology Society (EAS) President Dr. Michel Thibaudon said: "Highly allergenic trees are planted close to people's houses and schools, because pollen emissions and their interaction with human activities are not taken into account when planning. We need to systematically collect this data to take informed decisions to protect our health from pollen emissions".
European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients' Associations (EFA) President Christine Rolland said: "Allergy is not a trivial disease. It imposes a burden on healthcare systems and patients. Setting up a real-time pollen information system in Europe would enable patients to take daily actions to avoid their symptoms getting worse, diminishing their impact on productivity".
European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) President Antonella Muraro said: "We need targeted and comprehensive solutions to overcome the burden related to allergic rhinitis and asthma associated with sensitisation to ragweed. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is effective in adults and children for pollen allergy and it may alter the natural course of allergic diseases since it reduces the development of asthma and of new sensitisations and is effective several years after its cessation. The EAACI's new Presidential project 2015-2017 will develop comprehensive guidelines for clinical practice on Allergen Immunotherapy, embracing all the different stakeholders (e.g. Clinicians, Immunologists, Primary care, Regulatory Bodies, Allied Health Representatives, Patient Organisations)".