Aerobiological Information Systems and allergic respiratory disease management (AIS LIFE)

The most important biological component of ambient air is pollen, and its allergen is the main cause of airborne allergic respiratory diseases. Reasons for the increase in allergic responses to pollen allergen exposure are elusive, but environmental and lifestyle factors appear to drive the trend. In Europe, emissions of many air pollutants have decreased over past decades, resulting in some improved air quality. Nevertheless, this does not always produce a corresponding drop in atmospheric concentrations; especially for particulate matter (PM) and ozone (O₃), which have significant impact on human health. A growing body of evidence shows that chemical air pollutants and anthropogenic aerosols can alter the impact of allergenic pollen and that pollen production rises in higher atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. Changes in the plant flowering season due to climate change will probably mean an increase in the duration and severity of the pollen season, alongside a higher frequency of episodes of urban air pollution. These elements indicate that environmental factors involved in exacerbations of allergic respiratory diseases will have a more pronounced effect in coming decades.

The overall objective of the AIS LIFE project is to develop an information base, in order to enable policy-makers dealing with environment and health issues to better manage pollen-related allergic respiratory diseases.