Climate Change and Future Pollen Allergy in Europe

This paper looks at the potential of pollen allergy and its impacts on public health considering climate change impacts. Especially the consequences of climate change upon pollen allergy in humans was studied, based on quantitative estimates. Two different RCPs (4.5 and 8.5) and three different plant invasion scenarios were considered in the models. The research findings show that ragween pollen allergy will become a common health problem across Europe, also expanding to areas that are currently not suitable for ragween pollen. Thus a stronger focus on the control of ragween spread within adaptation strategies can be an important response to climate change.