The changes in the environment and biodiversity brought on by climate change could be responsible for increases in allergies, autoimmune diseases and autism, according to a Rutgers researcher
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY
Climate change and disruption of the ecosystem have the potential to profoundly impact the human body. Xue Ming, professor of neurology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, who recently published a paper in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health on the effects of climate change on allergies, autoimmunity and the microbiome — the beneficial microorganisms that live on and inside the human body — discusses how the delicate balance of the environment affects conditions such as allergies, autism and immune disorders.
How has climate change affected respiratory allergies?
Climate change has worsened respiratory allergic disease and has altered the immune system’s tolerance in responding to toxins, which has led to an increase in the prevalence of immune diseases. People with chronic respiratory allergic disease that affects the nose and eyes, such as asthma and allergies, are at particular risk due to increased exposure to pollen and the increased concentration and distribution of air pollutants.
According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, climate change has both increased the intensity of the pollen season as well as prolonged its duration. Increases in carbon dioxide were shown to lead to an increase in plant reproduction and total pollen levels, especially those plants that thrive at high carbon dioxide concentrations. For example, ragweed pollen has been increasing in concentration, with models predicting that levels will increase by four times within the next 30 years.
Thunderstorms, which have become more frequent due to rising sea temperatures, have been found to increase concentrations of pollen grains at ground level. After absorbing water, these grains can rupture and release allergenic particles that can induce severe asthmatic symptoms in patients with asthma or hay fever.
Climate change has also been linked to increased concentrations and distribution of air pollutants such as ozone, nitric oxide and other volatile organic chemicals. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that these airborne environmental pollutants may be partially responsible for the substantial increase in allergic respiratory disease seen in industrialized countries over the past several decades.
How do changes to the ecosystem affect allergies and respiratory disorders?
Deforestation and over-logging have led to a dramatic decrease in the diversity of plant species. As one species of plant becomes extinct, new species emerge to take their place. For example, as oak trees have been excessively harvested for architectural purposes, new species of trees have emerged. With these new trees come new forms of tree pollen, which are inhaled and ingested by humans on a daily basis.
Similarly, widespread pesticide use has altered the profile of insects, invertebrates and microorganisms with which we come into contact with through our soil and vegetation. As the environment is altered, our bodies are bombarded with novel organisms. The molecules which make up these organisms — known as antigens — are recognized as “foreign” by our bodies and create an inflammatory response.
How might a loss of biodiversity due to climate change affect non-respiratory diseases?
According to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, biodiversity is declining faster than at any time in human history, with nearly 1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction due to climate change.
The loss of biodiversity related to climate change may affect the microbiome, potentially leading to inflammatory, autoimmune and neurologic diseases. Immunologic disorders, such as food allergies, are on the rise. For example, several studies have found that increases in carbon dioxide and temperature are correlated with changes in the composition of the peanut, making it more difficult for the body to adapt immunity.
Could disturbances in gut bacteria affect the autism rate?
Disruption of gut bacteria has been linked to neurologic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, autism and Parkinson’s disease. In my own research, I found abnormal amino acid metabolism, increased imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body, and altered gut microbiomes among some patients with autism spectrum disorder.
What steps can be taken to minimize the health risks brought on by climate change?
We must end the destruction of our natural environment, decrease emissions of greenhouse gases and adopt more “green” behavior. With research demonstrating links between the microbiome and autoimmune, inflammatory and neurologic diseases, it is critical that we minimize antimicrobial exposure. This may involve altering guidelines for the prescription of antibiotics by medical professionals. In addition, given that the microbiome is directly impacted by our daily environment it is important to regularly immerse ourselves in nature and familiarize ourselves with biodiverse surroundings.
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Autism? Well, the good news is that there is no shortage of sharks to jump over.
The climate changes much more in just one set of seasons than is proposed here. That hasn’t caused any of the catastrophic conditions she blames. This is perhaps the worst paper I have read this year.
What a house of cards they have constructed. The words “potential”, and “could” in the conclusions tell you all you need to know. It is a very big stretch to connect mild warming to increases in disease of any kind.
Huh. Deforestation, over-logging, and pesticide use are components of climate change now?
“…Deforestation and over-logging have led to a dramatic decrease in the diversity of plant species. As one species of plant becomes extinct, new species emerge to take their place. For example, as oak trees have been excessively harvested for architectural purposes, new species of trees have emerged. With these new trees come new forms of tree pollen, which are inhaled and ingested by humans on a daily basis…”
So the example provided for decreased plant diversity is…increased plant diversity.
I don’t buy Professor Ming’s dubious assertions, but I have observed that contemplating climatic disasters definitely causes mental illness.
Strange Galactic Science! Very strange. . . . .
Solve traffic pollution and get killed by the trees (well maybe)?
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ffgc.2019.00050/full
So much BS in the article. Our fricking life style is causing these increases, climate change or not.
People from rural areas eating unprocessed food have way less allergies and auto-immune diseases where autism is probably now endemic because it is diagnosed more often down to the very mild cases that have been overlooked in the past.
“We must … decrease emissions of greenhouse gases and adopt more “green” behavior.”
Do they even realize the staggering level of stupidity of this sentence?
More CO2 means a greening planet. No need of any of their “green” scam :
https://notrickszone.com/2020/08/06/new-study-rising-co2-drives-post-1980s-greening-which-cools-the-earth-and-offsets-29-of-human-emissions/
I’m glad the obvious suspect (crazy vaccine schedule) is getting a pass.
What definition of “climate change” is this deep CCP plant with an MD from Fudan Medical University, China in 1984 using?
So the hypothetical causal link is climate change -> reduced biodiversity -> reduced biodiversity in my colon -> autism. Ticks a lot of boxes.
It’s funny because vaxxers told use increase of autism rates in many countries was an illusion. They have a studies (who data was collected by a felon) to prove it.
It’s quite amazing how a fraction of a degree in the temperature can have such a devastating impact on the world’s health!! Will we ever see and end to these research grant idiots.
And, mind you, it’s the global average change that is doing all this, since nothing much is happening locally.
Please be aware that the carbon dioxide concentration in healthy lungs is about 50000 ppm. also be aware that the Amish who are exposed as children to dirt and pollen on an agricultural scale have much less asthma and allergies than other similar groups who are not https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1508749?query=featured_home& wait until that study gets redacted when they find out it debunks the orthodoxy
“could”, “may”, some”, “might”
the words of someone who does not “know”.
All speculation with no hefty facts to back them up.
No mention of the 2 billion people in China where there used to be a few million.
No mention that the world population has quintupled and that the physical and social pressures of higher population just might cause problems for some.
Bunk!
i am 76 now i know why i am feeling 76 years old thank you Xue Ming you have made my day
“…nearly 1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction due to climate change.”
Show me the bodies!
‘Extinctions’ – yes, quite a lot of ‘species’ are threatened today, but you have to realise that some zoologists, like David Attenborough – can’t count!…….He recently said that ‘95% of all life on earth was already extinct’ – and a latest estimate puts that 5% as 8+ million ‘species’ on earth today, that means that 160 million ‘species’ must be found as fossils….. Yet the Natural History Museum in London admits to less than million, c 750, 000 ‘species’ only, as fossils [although there are billions of fossils, most are of the same life form]!…….And most are not separate ‘species’ anyway, but adult or young, different stages of metamorphic life, interbreeding ‘ring species’ or natural, built-in variety…… And when you factor in evolution’s mythical ‘Missing Links’ – lets say a generous 10 minimum between each ‘species’ – that means an an awful lot more fossil ‘species’ needed…… And yet these billions of ‘species’ are represented by only a tiny handful in the billions of available fossils covering every geological level, and that handful are either not any kind of link, but fantasy as forerunners [like Pakicetus or Tiktaalik], or ‘fully formed mosaics’ with no ‘evolving’ features, no new genetics, and neither blind nor accidental, like Archaeopteryx & Lungfish…… etc!