Worsening Allergies and Asthma As the Planet Heats Up

There is now considerable scientific evidence IRS attorneys global warming is affecting our health. So what can you and I do about it?

Global warming is already playing havoc with climate, causing shorter winters in many regions. That's great for cutting down heating bills, but for people who suffer from allergies, earlier springs mean earlier release of pollen into the air, which means more allergies. One study has shown that warmer temperatures and increased carbon dioxide contribute to longer allergy seasons and stronger allergies. Weed and agriculture experts say there is enough evidence of this to warrant new policies to address the problem.

Longer Allergy Season

According to The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Spring has been coming 10 to 15 days earlier over the last 30 years, and this trend is expected to continue. "We can assume that allergic disorders are starting earlier because the pollen season starts earlier," says Dr. Bettina Menne of the World Health Organization. Shorter springs are resulting in a longer allergy season and stronger allergies, with serious implications for public health.

More Pollen, and It Can Be More Toxic

A Harvard study showed that weeds can produce 61% more pollen when exposed to double the amount of carbon dioxide. This confirms what many scientists have already observed, that with increased carbon dioxide emissions due to global warming, weeds are growing larger and stronger. This makes them not only more able to successfully compete with food crops, but also ups their pollen production. Since pollen allergies affect the majority of allergy sufferers, the health effects can be serious.

One study reported that weeds can become even more of a problem in cities, where temperatures are warmer due to trapped heat, and carbon dioxide is more concentrated. Research by Dr. Lewis Ziska showed that ragweed, a heavy pollen producer, can grow up to 190% larger in urban areas, and produce many times the quantity of pollen produced by rural weeds. The city pollen was also found to be much more toxic. Other researchers concluded that the pollen of plants exposed to higher levels of carbon dioxide are more potent. Pollen-bearing trees and even hardier weeds also grow larger, stronger and produce more and more potent pollen when exposed to air with the higher concentrations of carbon dioxide found in cities.

Other Ways That Global Warming Increases Allergies and Asthma

Increased temperatures, more intense rainstorms, and worsening floods due to global warming have already led to an explosion of donate your car and fungi in some areas, while prolonged and spreading droughts are responsible for high levels of dust in the air. Both allergies and asthma are affected.

Higher temperatures also means higher levels of smog or ozone from burning fossil fuels, yet another trigger for more and more severe respiratory problems. Heat also increases the potency and concentrations of many toxins, which are found in our water, air, and soil.

It is not difficult to understand why the incidence of serious allergies and asthma has gone over the top over the last decades. There is mounting evidence that warmer temperatures, more carbon dioxide, increased in pollen production, worsening smog and other effects of global warming are largely responsible for the rapid growth of allergies worldwide over the last twenty years; the other major factor, of course, being increased exposure to toxins.

The rate and severity of asthma has increased at an even faster rate, and an asthma epidemic is already occurring among inner-city children. In 2004, the Harvard Medical School noted a 160% increase in asthma among inner-city pre-school children in the U.S

The risks of stronger allergies and asthma in the future from global warming have already prompted many researchers and public health officials to urge government action now.

What Can You Do?

The first step is to reduce The Hobbit exposure to pollen, smog, toxins and other irritants that can affect your allergies or lungs:

Stay indoors on high smog or pollen days and shut the windows, or spend the day in air-conditioned places.

Invest in a good quality HEPA filter to remove microscopic particles from the air in your home.

Use hard flooring instead of carpets, and wash regularly.

Wash rugs and curtain.

If possible, plant more non-allergenic trees and plants around your house to help filter pollutants from the air.

Exercise in the early morning before pollutants and pollen rise in the heat of the day.

Keep all the filters in your house clean.

Take high quality essential fatty acids to strengthen your airways.

Meanwhile, take steps against global warming:

Choose energy-efficient appliances.
Convert to solar power water heating.
Turn off appliances and lights when not in use.
Where possible, reduce car travel. Carpool or walk to public transport.
Take steps to reduce the level of toxins in your home, as many household cleaners, glues, varnishes and carpets emit toxic vapours.
Let your local and national governments know you demand action on global warming.

Sources:
Goudarzi, Sara, 'Allergies Getting Worse Due to Global Warming', Life Science, 22 Nov 2005
Naik, Gautum, 'Global Warming May Be Spurring Allergy, Asthma', The Wall Street Journal, 10 May 2007
Pennybacker, Mindy, 'Global Warming: Ready for Your Carbon Close-Up?', The Green Guide, April 2007
The Lancet, 'Global Warming Increases Asthma', 7 May 2004

Allergy expert Bojan Schianetz has published many more practical tips for combating global warming and clearing your home of toxins. To order his low cost books, 'Healthy Home Secrets' and 'Create an Environmentally Conscious Home', go to www.renewyoujourney.com">www.renewyoujourney.com and click on 'shopping' then on 'books and booklets'.