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

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.

Key Points

• 1. Epidemiological studies show that indoor and outdoor pollutions affect respiratory health, including an increased prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases. Global warming will increase the effects of outdoor air pollution on health.

• 2. The Asia-Pacific is the most populated region in the world, with a huge burden of both outdoor and indoor pollutants, including PM _2.5, PM ₁₀, SPM, CO, O ₃, NO ₂, SO ₂, NO and household pollutants including biomass and tobacco.

• 3. The risk factors for the epidemic rise of allergic diseases in the Asia-Pacific are due to the increasing urbanization, environmental factors of air pollution and climate changes in recent decades than in the other parts of the world.

• 4. In light of the different environmental exposures in different countries of the Asia-Pacific region, strategies to combat allergic disease in this region should be focused on active government policies to fight air pollution based on the local conditions.

• 5. Substantial efforts need to be implemented with a concerted strategy at legislative, administrative, and community levels to improve air quality.

• 6. Abatement of the main risk factors for respiratory diseases, in particular, environmental tobacco smoke, indoor biomass fuels, and outdoor air pollution, as well as better control of asthma and rhinitis will achieve huge health benefits.