We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Risk factors for the prevalence and development of allergic diseases
Summary
This review synthesized evidence on risk factors for the development of allergic diseases, covering genetic predisposition, early-life microbial exposure, diet, air pollution, and emerging exposures including microplastics. The authors discuss how environmental changes have driven rising allergy prevalence and identify microplastics as a candidate contributing factor warranting further study.
Allergic diseases such as food allergy, atopic dermatitis, allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis are prototypical examples of diseases in which pathogenesis is a complex interaction of genetic/epigenetic and environmental factors.Epigenetic mechanisms are known to play a key role in the pathogenesis of allergic disorders, especially through mediating the effects of environmental factors, known risk modifiers.Environmental factors are not only risk factors, but play an important role in the development and exacerbation of allergic diseases.Direct or indirect effects of environmental factors on epigenetic mechanisms and gene expression favor the development of allergic diseases.Exposure to indoor factors, such as house dust mites or exposure to tobacco smoke, can significantly increase the occurrence of asthma and/or allergic rhinitis, as well as outdoor factors, such as pollutants, micro and nanoplastic particles, which can affect allergenicity in the so-called naive allergens, but also the functionality of the epithelial barrier and the immune response modifiers.Climate change and global warming have significant effects on increasing the growth of allergenic species, increasing the concentration of allergenic pollens, and the duration of the pollination season.In addition, viruses and other pathogens are also recognized as risk factors for the onset and exacerbation of allergic diseases.Numerous modifiers of the microbiome, and factors that affect barrier functionality, such as various nutrients, are also recognized as risk factors for the development of allergic diseases.In this review article, we discuss risk factors for the occurrence and development of allergic diseases in children.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
The interconnection between environment, immune-nutrition and allergic disease
This review explores the connections between environmental factors, immune-nutrition, and the rising global prevalence of allergic diseases. The study discusses how climate change, air pollution, biodiversity loss, and environmental contaminants including microplastics contribute to immune dysregulation, and highlights the role of the microbiome and dietary factors in modulating allergic disease risk.
Cellular and molecular mechanisms of allergic asthma
Researchers reviewed the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind allergic asthma, finding that rising exposure to environmental pollutants — including microplastics — likely contributes to the disease's increasing prevalence, as pollutants disrupt airway barrier integrity and trigger immune responses that lead to chronic airway inflammation.
Confronting allergies: strategies for combating pollution and safeguarding our health
This review examined the growing body of evidence linking environmental pollutants, including airborne microplastics, to increasing rates of allergic reactions worldwide. Researchers found that air pollution and indoor contaminants can worsen respiratory allergies, while climate change intensifies seasonal allergy patterns. The study emphasizes the need for comprehensive action including government regulation and public awareness to reduce pollution-driven allergy risks.
One Health in allergology: A concept that connects humans, animals, plants, and the environment
This review applies the One Health framework to allergology, arguing that the increasing prevalence of allergic diseases reflects interconnections between human, animal, and environmental health, with environmental contaminants including microplastics among the discussed contributing factors.
Alergia alimentaria y contaminación ambiental
This paper is not primarily about microplastics; it reviews how environmental exposures — including air pollutants and poor waste management — contribute to allergic disease in children, with microplastics mentioned only briefly as one component of the broader environmental exposome.