Allergens and respiratory problems
Allergens increasingly affect people's daily lives due to continously challenging and ever changing outdoor conditions enhanced by climate change, prologed allergy season and significant geographical shifts in allergenic species.
Respiratory problems and allergies affect many people
Large part of population is affected by allergy - hay fever and asthma - becoming increasingly common worldwide. Common respiratory problems include sneezing, running nose, itchy and stuffy nose, shortness of breath.
It significantly influences daily lives, leading to discomfort and impacting health of people. Allergens and also pollutants have even more stronger impact on vulnerable populations, such as children, elderly and individuals with compromised immune systems.
Managining and reducing symptoms starts with identification and staying away or indoors from specific allergens. Using centralised mechanical ventilation with high-efficiency particulate air filters and prevention with windows closed in buildings can reduce allergen exposure indoors.
Critical situation with allergens worldwide
Worldwide, about 400 million people suffer from hay fever, with Europe’s rates reaching up to 40%, while the U.S. is around 30%. And alarming, the numbers of affected people from airborne allergens could likely double in next 50 years due to climate changes.
In many countries, the hay fever season is starting earlier, lasting longer and producing higher pollen loads – and there are predictions that rising temperatures will cause a major increase in severity over time.
Environmental health scientiests are seeing plants associated with allergies migrating northward and creating geographical shifts, for example towards Poland and Sweden, and many more places.
Facts about pollen
- The size of pollen particles is determined by the plant or tree species that produces it. Smaller pollen grains, typically from weeds, trees, and grasses, can be as small as 2.5 microns and others as large as 200 microns or more.
- A micron (µm) is one-millionth of a meter, a unit of measurement much smaller than a human hair, which is roughly 50-70 microns wide.
- If one can see pollen floating in the air, it is pretty significant, likely around 60 microns or more.
- Properly selected and maintained air filters in mechanical ventilation systems can capture pollen particles (typically 10–100 microns).
Causes, symptoms, prevention and management of allergies and respiratory issues
An allergen is a biological or chemical substance that causes an allergic reaction. An allergy is immune system response by substances, known as allergens, that are usually harmless but can trigger an allergic reaction in some indivuduals.
Common allergens are pollen as particles from plants or trees, dust mites as microscopic creatures, mould spores as a type of fungus, fur from animals in homes and certain chemicals.
It is unclear why some people develop allergies and others do not, however it can be attributed to genetic factors causing predisposition and increased about of extra exposures
https://www.buildingstars.com/allergies-and-respiratory-issues-in-the-office-space/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK236018/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21461-allergic-asthma
https://www.verywellhealth.com/respiratory-allergies-symptoms-causes-and-treatment-5206183
https://www.efanet.org/images/documents/EFABookonRespiratoryAllergiesFINAL.pdf
Mechanical ventilation and its effects on asthma and allergy
Operation of a mechanical ventilation system has been found to have both positive and negative effects on asthma and allergy symptoms. Use of heat recovery ventilation, compared with a placebo unit, was associated with a progressive fall in the odds ratio for the reported wheeze [38]. Xu et al. [62] reported that the installation of ventilation units effectively reduced asthma symptoms and indicators of airway inflammation, although the effect could not be separated from the effect caused by the parallel operation of an air cleaner, which was a part of this unit.
Domestic mechanical heat recovery ventilation systems that were expected to increase ventilation rate by 0.5 h−1 in addition to allergen avoidance measures, reduced the relative humidity and improved peak expiratory flow indicating relieved asthma symptoms, but there were no effects on HDMs [63]. Howieson et al. [64] reported that the installation of such a system in homes reduced asthmatic symptoms and improved lung function in children, presumably because it reduced house dust mites by reducing the relative humidity. Emenius et al. [40] found no relationship between the type of ventilation system in operation and the risk of recurrent wheeze. The presence of a ventilation system was associated with increased levels of allergic symptoms in studies reported by Ezratty et al. [65] and Takahashi et al. [66]. The large amounts of pollen that could enter dwellings through the air ducts and other factors not related to mechanical ventilation system probably account for these unexpected observations.
Read more in the scientific paper “What does the scientific literature tell us about the ventilation–health relationship in public and residential buildings?” by Pawel Wargocki and co-authors published at the Journal of Building and Environment.
According to the World Allergy Organization, allergies (or allergic rhinitis) currently affect between 10% and 30% of all adults (67 million) worldwide and up to 40% of children (14 million).
Allergic asthma is a breathing condition where the airways you breathe through tighten when you inhale an allergen. Common allergens include pollen, dander and mold spores. This type of asthma is very common in both children and adults.
Symptoms of allergic asthma can include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, stuffy nose, itchy eyes and a rash.
Hay fever is a common allergy that causes sneezing, coughing, and itchy eyes. It can be triggered by seasonal allergens like pollen and grass or year-round triggers like dust mites and animal fur.
Allergy and asthma control begins in a building. Many people with allergies stay indoors when pollen counts are high, and cleaning homes can reduce indoor allergens.
To prevent outdoor air pollution from entering a building, air filters in mechanical ventilation systems clean airflow into and within a building and limit exposure to allergens.
Ventilation and allergies are interconnected. Quality building ventilation is vital to living in and working in a clean and comfortable space. By providing fresh air, ventilation can greatly prevent and reduce several of the most common and bothersome allergies.
Airborne allergens extend to an all-year challenge
Pollen and other allergens go from seasonal to all-year-round. We are witnessing a clear shift in the airborne allergens being more aggressive every year. What was once a seasonal problem has become an almost continuous challenge, with increasingly more severe effects on people. We used to know when irritation from pollen was about to happen as it was a seasonal issue, but nowadays, airborne allergens are bothering us all year round. And with these changes comes a constant exposure to allergies, as people can no longer 'escape' by staying indoors and waiting it out. There are strategies improve indoor environmental quality in response to extended pollen seasons.
Read our Update&Insight 'Airborne allergens extend to an all-year challenge'
Respiratory problems in connection to humidity levels indoors
Optimal humidity in buildings is no longer exclusively a feel-good factor – it can directly impact people's health, comfort, well-being and performance.
- High and low relative humidity levels had a deleterious and costly effect on the health and productivity of the building's occupants.
- This is concerning viruses, fungi, respiratory infections, allergies, asthma, and ozone.
- High humidity facilitates the growth of fungi (mould) and bacteria that can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
- And it can make a person feel tired and sluggish.
Outdoor air quality index available for air pollution
Did you know that an outdoor air quality index is available to indicate the current air pollution and inform people about potential health risks? An air quality index (AQI) is an indicator developed by government agencies to communicate to the public about possible health problems connected to air pollution. It aims at the high-risk parts of our population, such as children, the elderly and individuals with respiratory or cardiovascular health issues. Still, as more people are affected by allergies, it can help many.
Different countries have an air quality index corresponding to national air quality standards. For example, the European Air Quality Index (EAQI) by the European Environment Agency (EEA) monitors the air quality in Europe. The parameters monitored are carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10).
You will never know just how much you value your breath until you can't breathe.Unknown about asthma