The most important biological component of ambient air is pollen, and its allergens are the main cause of airborne allergic respiratory diseases (1). In Europe, emissions of some air pollutants have decreased over past decades (2). Nevertheless, this does not always produce a corresponding drop in atmospheric concentrations, especially for particulate matter and ozone, which have significant impact on human health (2). Chemical air pollutants and anthropogenic aerosols can alter the impact of allergenic pollen, while pollen production rises in higher atmospheric CO2 concentrations (3, 4). Changes in plant flowering season due to climate change will probably result in an increase in the duration and severity of the pollen season, alongside a higher frequency of episodes of urban air pollution (1). Therefore, exacerbations of allergic respiratory diseases will have a more pronounced effect in coming decades (5). In this context, AIS LIFE project (http://www.ais-life.eu) aims to develop an information base, to enable policy-makers dealing with environment and health issues to better manage pollen-related allergic respiratory diseases, improve the quality of life of patients suffering from them, reduce health system costs, and increase awareness among sufferers of pollen-related allergic respiratory diseases. Expected results: Establishment and consolidation of a multidisciplinary, transnational network of experts, with particular attention to pollen-related allergic respiratory health; implementation and dissemination of an Integrated Information System (IIS) and an enhanced Personalised Information Systems (PPI) in Italy, France and Austria; the widening of the Tuscan monitoring network for aerobiological components, by activating a sampling station in Pisa (Italy); educational campaigns (Italy, France and Austria) on the use of the Aerobiological Information System (AIS), promotion of improved lifestyles, and prevention of respiratory allergic diseases; raised awareness concerning the effects of interactions between pollens and chemicals on allergic symptoms across Europe, to guide environmental and health policy decisions. The aerobiological monitoring is in function since 1st June 2014 in Italy, France and Austria, with the continuous collecting of the data on the most important allergenic botanical families and fungal spores: Asteraceae, Betulaceae, Corylaceae, Cupressaceae - Taxaceae, Fagaceae, Oleaceae, Platanaceae, Poaceae, Urticaceae and Alternaria. Acknowledgements: ARPAT and Consorzio LaMMA (Italy); ZAMG and MA22 (Austria); RNSA, Air Rhône-Alpes, Air Parif, Météo France and Infoclimat (France) are gratefully acknowledged for providing chemical, aerobiological, and climate modelling data.
AIS LIFE – AEROBIOLOGICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM AND ALLERGIC RESPIRATORY DISEASE MANAGEMENT - LIFE13ENV/IT/001107
RUGGIERO, FRANCO;BALDACCI, SANDRA;BEDINI, GIANNI
2015-01-01
Abstract
The most important biological component of ambient air is pollen, and its allergens are the main cause of airborne allergic respiratory diseases (1). In Europe, emissions of some air pollutants have decreased over past decades (2). Nevertheless, this does not always produce a corresponding drop in atmospheric concentrations, especially for particulate matter and ozone, which have significant impact on human health (2). Chemical air pollutants and anthropogenic aerosols can alter the impact of allergenic pollen, while pollen production rises in higher atmospheric CO2 concentrations (3, 4). Changes in plant flowering season due to climate change will probably result in an increase in the duration and severity of the pollen season, alongside a higher frequency of episodes of urban air pollution (1). Therefore, exacerbations of allergic respiratory diseases will have a more pronounced effect in coming decades (5). In this context, AIS LIFE project (http://www.ais-life.eu) aims to develop an information base, to enable policy-makers dealing with environment and health issues to better manage pollen-related allergic respiratory diseases, improve the quality of life of patients suffering from them, reduce health system costs, and increase awareness among sufferers of pollen-related allergic respiratory diseases. Expected results: Establishment and consolidation of a multidisciplinary, transnational network of experts, with particular attention to pollen-related allergic respiratory health; implementation and dissemination of an Integrated Information System (IIS) and an enhanced Personalised Information Systems (PPI) in Italy, France and Austria; the widening of the Tuscan monitoring network for aerobiological components, by activating a sampling station in Pisa (Italy); educational campaigns (Italy, France and Austria) on the use of the Aerobiological Information System (AIS), promotion of improved lifestyles, and prevention of respiratory allergic diseases; raised awareness concerning the effects of interactions between pollens and chemicals on allergic symptoms across Europe, to guide environmental and health policy decisions. The aerobiological monitoring is in function since 1st June 2014 in Italy, France and Austria, with the continuous collecting of the data on the most important allergenic botanical families and fungal spores: Asteraceae, Betulaceae, Corylaceae, Cupressaceae - Taxaceae, Fagaceae, Oleaceae, Platanaceae, Poaceae, Urticaceae and Alternaria. Acknowledgements: ARPAT and Consorzio LaMMA (Italy); ZAMG and MA22 (Austria); RNSA, Air Rhône-Alpes, Air Parif, Météo France and Infoclimat (France) are gratefully acknowledged for providing chemical, aerobiological, and climate modelling data.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
