Asia Pacific Allergy 2020;10(1):11-

doi:10.5415/apallergy.2020.10.e11

Asia Pacific Association of Allergy Asthma and Clinical Immunology White Paper 2020 on climate change, air pollution, and biodiversity in Asia-Pacific and impact on allergic diseases

Ruby PAWANKAR 1 ; Jiu Yao WANG ; I Jen WANG ; Francis THIEN ; Yoon Seok CHANG ; Amir Hamzah Abdul LATIFF ; Takao FUJISAWA ; Luo ZHANG ; Bernard Yu Hor THONG ; Pantipa CHATCHATEE ; Ting Fan LEUNG ; Wasu KAMCHAISATIAN ; Iris RENGGANIS ; Ho Joo YOON ; Sonomjamts MUNKHBAYARLAKH ; Marysia T. RECTO ; Anne Goh Eng NEO ; Duy LE PHAM ; Le Thi Tuyet LAN ; Janet Mary DAVIES ; Jae Won OH

Affiliations

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Keywords

Climate change; Air pollution; Allergic disease; Asia-Pacific

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

MeSH

Abstract

Air pollution, climate change, and reduced biodiversity are major threats to human health with detrimental effects on a variety of chronic noncommunicable diseases in particular respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The extent of air pollution both outdoor and indoor air pollution and climate change including global warming is increasing-to alarming proportions particularly in the developing world especially rapidly industrializing countries worldwide. In recent years, Asia has experienced rapid economic growth and a deteriorating environment and increase in allergic diseases to epidemic proportions. Air pollutant levels in many Asian countries especially in China and India are substantially higher than are those in developed countries. Moreover, industrial, traffic-related, and household biomass combustion, indoor pollutants from chemicals and tobacco are major sources of air pollutants, with increasing burden on respiratory allergies. Here we highlight the major components of outdoor and indoor air pollutants and their impacts on respiratory allergies associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis in the Asia-Pacific region. With Asia-Pacific comprising more than half of the world's population there is an urgent need to increase public awareness, highlight targets for interventions, public advocacy and a call to action to policy makers to implement policy changes towards reducing air pollution with interventions at a population-based level.