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Review
. 2020 Jul 4;17(13):4814.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17134814.

Climate Change and Human Health: A Review of Allergies, Autoimmunity and the Microbiome

Carly Ray  1 , Xue Ming  1
Affiliations
Review

Climate Change and Human Health: A Review of Allergies, Autoimmunity and the Microbiome

Carly Ray et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The impact of climate change on human health is a topic of critical importance. While only recently beginning to gain attention, it is clear that immediate action is necessary to minimize this impact. In our review, we will outline a subset of these effects in detail. We will examine how climate change has worsened respiratory allergic disease. We will discuss how climate change has altered antigen exposure, possibly disrupting antigen-specific tolerance by the immune system, leading, in turn, to an increase in the prevalence of immunologic diseases. Finally, we will explore how the loss of biodiversity related to climate change may affect the microbiome, potentially leading to dysbiosis, inflammatory, autoimmune and neurologic diseases.

Keywords: allergy; autoimmunity; climate change; dysbiosis; microbiome; neurodevelopment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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