THE ROLE OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE RISE OF ALLERGIC DISEASES: ECOLOGICAL LITERACY AS A MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGY
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This article conducts a systematic review of the complex mechanisms linking global climate change to the increasing prevalence and severity of allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. Climate change drivers, including rising temperatures and elevated atmospheric CO2, directly impact aeroallergen-producing flora. This leads to longer, more intense pollen seasons, higher pollen production, and increased allergenicity of pollen grains. Furthermore, the interaction between chemical air pollutants (often from the same sources as CO2) and pollen creates a synergistic effect that exacerbates respiratory inflammation. This paper, structured in the IMRAD format, analyzes this immuno-toxicological and ecological evidence. It then proposes that enhancing public ecological literacy (a subset of environmental health literacy) is a critical, non-clinical strategy for both mitigation (supporting policies that reduce climate change) and adaptation (empowering individuals to reduce personal exposure). The results synthesize key data into tables of climate-driven mechanisms and corresponding literacy-based interventions. The article concludes with extensive recommendations for integrating climate-health literacy into public health, clinical practice, and educational policy as a primary tool for disease prevention in a changing climate.
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