“There’s one issue that will define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other, and that is the urgent and growing threat of a changing climate.”
— U.S. President Barack Obama, UN Climate Change Summit, September 23, 2014
I had the opportunity to partake in huge city wide event, “Its My Park Day”, put on by the Austin Parks Foundation. I volunteered in a park clean up at Blunn Creek Nature Preserve by the university. I volunteered along with my soccer team. There were many other groups there, and all together we had a total of about 60 volunteers. The clean up had many objectives. One was to remove trash and debris that had accumulated along the neighborhood border of the park. Piles of concrete, brick, and rusted metal were removed. Another goal of the day was to plant Switchgrass throughout the preserve and by the creek. The purpose was to create a buffer between the stream to prevent sediment runoff. We also had a hand in some seed dispersal. All of these things will help strengthen the park’s natural defense against invaders.
Grass planted along the creek’s border
My teammate and I finishing up some planting!
Parks are homes to several species. They bring clusters of plants together in one place, and while they are beautiful to look at and be around, they also are hubs of seasonal pollen and allergens. Allergies have always existed and have been tormenting people for forever, but an interesting observation has been made, and that is a change in the amount and timing of allergens caused by pollen. Climate change is said to be the major culprit behind this observation.
The Earth is in a great position in space to receive a lot of energy from the sun, but not be burnt to the crisp. The earth is able to maintain livable conditions by having a layer of greenhouse gases (GHG) surround our atmosphere. This layer keeps the earth warm and shields it from the cold of the universe. Of the gases that are involved, CO2 is a main component to this layer. This is why when we burn fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, CO2 is emitted and it becomes a dangerous and impactful energy source. The extra CO2 in our atmosphere makes the layer of GHG thicker and ultimately makes the earth warmer aka climate change (WWF).
A report done by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change claimed, “Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia. The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished, and sea level has risen” (IPCC). Humans play the most influential part in climate change. The emission of greenhouse gases is the highest in history, and have widespread impacts on humans and nature (IPCC). These emissions have increased since the pre-industrial era and are driven by population size, economic activity, lifestyle, energy use, land patterns, technology and climate policy.
There are several health impacts that come along with climate change. Among them are cancer, cardiovascular disease and stroke, mental health disorders, neurological diseases, and many other effects. Respiratory diseases are also influenced by climate change. Reduced air quality is the reasoning behind respiratory diseases.
Among the many respiratory diseases, asthma has been shown to be exacerbated and has become more prevalent due to climate change. Asthma is a condition in which airways narrow and swell. Extra mucus is secreted in these passageways further closing the space for oxygen to enter your lungs. This makes breathing difficult and can cause coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath (Asthma Mayo). As you can guess asthma is triggered by the various irritants and substances that cause allergies. These allergies are different for everyone, what causes asthma for one person can have zero effect on someone else. Climate change plays a role in asthma because it intensifies and increases the quantity of available allergens in the atmosphere and air.
There are many ways that climate change affects air quality. An increase in allergens can come from any of the following sources: an increase ground level ozone and fine particle concentrations, an Increase in carbon dioxide concentrations and temperatures, increase in precipitation, and an increase in the frequency of droughts (Portier).
Ground level ozone itself can directly trigger reactions that cause chest pains, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion. These reactions lower lung function and aggravate asthma. Excess CO2 coming from greenhouse gases increase temperatures ultimately disturbing the timing of “aeroallergen distribution and amplifying the allergenicity of pollen and mold spores” (Portier) A change in rainfall in some areas leads to an increase in mold spores as well. Mold spores get into your nose and can cause allergy symptoms, and if they reach your lungs, they have the possibility to initiate asthma (AAFA). Most of us have fallen victims to such allergies. I had the fortunate pleasure to remain home half of spring break because of these irritants. Droughts also lead to increased dust and particulate matter which can induce asthma (Portier).
In 2014 The U.S. Global Change Research Program released the 3rd national climate assessment, which is a comprehensive report on climate change and its impacts in the United States. In regard to human health, and allergens more specifically the report stated that, “Asthma prevalence (the percentage of people who have ever been diagnosed with asthma and still have asthma) increased nationwide from 7.3% in 2001 to 8.4% in 2010. Asthma visits in primary care settings, emergency room visits, and hospitalizations were all stable from 2001 to 2009, and asthma death rates per 1,000 persons with asthma declined from 2001 to 2009” (Luber). The report went further on to suggest that with increased pollen exposures patients and doctors will be challenged with maintaining asthma control.
Here in Austin and in Texas, allergy season is almost a year long convention spanning the fall, winter, and spring. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Austin breaks into the top 100 worst cities to live in for allergies and asthma. In 2016 Austin ranked #58 in worst city for allergies, and 2015 we came in at #91 for worst city to live in with asthma (Asthma and Allergy). Extreme weather events, being caused by climate change, in central Texas such as flooding and droughts create optimal conditions for certain plant species. These conditions alter normal pollen productions and unequivocally plays a role in exacerbating and setting off cases of asthma.
Allergies and Asthma is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to health effects of climate change. Polluted air quality has many other impacts to humans and the earth. This alone should be enough to create change in our industries and production, but unfortunately it is a slow process that will only keep harming us. As of now steps are being taken to reduce carbon emissions but backlash and appeals are still elongating the fight for clean air. We should never have to question how safe our air is, and hopefully in the future we will never have to read a report about the “top polluted cities” or “the worst places to live with asthma”.
Works Cited
“AAFA.” Mold Allergy. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation Of America. “Allergy Capitals 2016.” Spring Allergy Capitals 2016 – Top 100 Most Challenging Places to Live with Spring Allergies (2016): 1-4. Allergy Capitals. AAFA. Web. 3 Apr. 2016.
“Asthma.” Mayo Clinic. Ed. Clinic Staff. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.
“Climate Change Is In the Air.” NRDC. National Resource Defense Council, 31 Dec. 2015. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.
IPCC, 2014: Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, R.K. Pachauri and L.A. Meyer (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, 151 pp.
Luber, G., K. Knowlton, J. Balbus, H. Frumkin, M. Hayden, J. Hess, M. McGeehin, N. Sheats, L. Backer, C. B. Beard, K. L. Ebi, E. Maibach, R. S. Ostfeld, C. Wiedinmyer, E. Zielinski-Gutiérrez, and L. Ziska, 2014: Ch. 9: Human Health. Climate Change Impacts in the United States: The Third National Climate Assessment, J. M. Melillo, Terese (T.C.) Richmond, and G. W. Yohe, Eds., U.S. Global Change Research Program, 220-256. doi:10.7930/J0PN93H5.
Portier CJ, Thigpen Tart K, Carter SR, Dilworth CH, Grambsch AE, Gohlke J, Hess J, Howard SN, Luber G, Lutz JT, Maslak T, Prudent N, Radtke M, Rosenthal JP, Rowles T, Sandifer PA, Scheraga J, Schramm PJ, Strickman D, Trtanj JM, Whung P-Y. 2010. A Human Health Perspective On Climate Change: A Report Outlining the Research Needs on the Human Health Effects of Climate Change. Research Triangle Park, NC:Environmental Health Perspectives/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. doi:10.1289/ehp.1002272 Available: www.niehs.nih.gov/climatereport
WWF, “What Causes Climate Change?” WWF. World Wildlife Fund, n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2016.