Speaker's Highlight

• Don Sin University of British Columbia, St. Paul Hospital (Canada)
  Kenneth R. Chapman Toronto General Hospital Research Institute (Canada)
• Parameswaran Nair McMaster University (Canada)
  Carolyn Calfee UCSF (U.S.A.)
• Gregory P. Downey University of Colorado School of Medicine (U.S.A.)
  David A. Schwartz University of Colorado School of Medicine (U.S.A.)
• Neil Schluger Tuberculosis Control Branch, California Department of Public Health (U.S.A.)
  Nick Kim Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, University of California San Diego (U.S.A.)
• Nicola Hananiah Baylor College of Medicine (U.S.A.)
  Jae-Joon Yim Seoul National University College of Medicine (Republic of Korea)
• Koichiro Asano Tokai University School of Medicine (Japan)
  Diahn-Warng Perng Taipei Veterans General Hospital (Taiwan)
• Konstantinos Kostikas University of Ioannina (Greece)
  Karin Klooster University Medical Center Groningen (Kingdom of the Netherlands)

• Climate Change and Respiratory Allergies in Australia

  Climate change is reshaping the conditions that trigger respiratory allergies. Warmer temperatures, shifting rainfall, longer pollen seasons and more frequent extreme weather can increase exposure to airborne irritants. For people with asthma, allergic rhinitis or other airway conditions, these changes may mean symptoms arrive earlier, last longer or become harder to predict.

  The relationship between climate and breathing is complex. Plants respond to heat and carbon dioxide by changing their growth and pollen production, while storms, floods and droughts alter mould and dust levels. Air pollution from traffic, industry and bushfires can further inflame the airways, making a person more sensitive to an allergen that previously caused only mild discomfort.

  Australia illustrates these trends clearly. Grass pollen is a familiar trigger in Melbourne and other southern cities, while people in New South Wales and Queensland may face a mixture of pollen, humidity, mould and smoke. During the Victorian thunderstorm asthma events, sudden weather changes carried concentrated pollen fragments deep into the lungs and caused severe breathing problems.

  This makes climate-aware respiratory care increasingly important. Clinicians, public health authorities and patients need to consider weather patterns alongside conventional allergy histories. The medical community’s focus on research, education and practical management is reflected in resources such as the APSR 2022 congress, which connects respiratory medicine with wider healthcare discussions.

  Longer Pollen Seasons And Stronger Exposure

  A warmer climate can extend the period during which allergenic plants flower. In some regions, spring begins earlier and autumn conditions persist later, increasing the number of days when grass, tree or weed pollen is present. The effect is not identical everywhere, since rainfall, plant species and local temperatures determine how much pollen is released.

  Higher carbon dioxide levels may also encourage certain plants to produce more pollen or make pollen more allergenic. For Australians with hay fever, this can translate into more persistent sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes and cough. People who have previously managed symptoms only during a short spring window may find that their treatment needs review across a broader part of the year.

  Bushfire Smoke And Inflamed Airways

  Bushfire smoke is a major respiratory hazard across Australia. Fine particles can travel long distances from fires in the Blue Mountains, regional Victoria or Western Australia, reaching urban areas far from the original blaze. Smoke irritates the nose, throat and lower airways, and it can intensify asthma and allergic inflammation even when pollen levels are unchanged.

  Smoke exposure also complicates symptom recognition. Wheezing, chest tightness and coughing may reflect asthma, smoke irritation, infection or a combination of factors. Checking local air-quality alerts, keeping prescribed reliever medication available and reducing outdoor exertion during hazardous conditions can help limit exposure, particularly for children and people with established lung disease.

  Storms, Humidity And Mould

  Thunderstorms can create a rapid shift from manageable pollen exposure to a serious asthma threat. Moisture causes pollen grains to rupture into smaller particles, which may penetrate deeper into the lungs. Gusty winds can then spread them quickly. Victoria’s thunderstorm asthma experience has made this risk an important part of seasonal preparedness and public health messaging.

  Warmer, wetter conditions can also encourage indoor mould growth, especially after flooding or prolonged dampness. Homes with poor ventilation, water damage or persistent condensation may expose residents to mould spores that aggravate allergic rhinitis and asthma. In humid parts of Queensland and northern New South Wales, controlling moisture, repairing leaks and using ventilation are practical parts of respiratory protection.

  Dust, Drought And Urban Air Quality

  Drought can increase airborne dust from dry soil, farms, roads and construction sites. Dust particles irritate the airways and may carry pollen, fungal material or other biological fragments. In inland communities, wind events can make outdoor work and exercise particularly difficult for people with sensitive lungs.

  Cities add another layer of exposure. Vehicle emissions and urban heat can worsen background air pollution, while heatwaves may increase ozone formation. When pollution, pollen and high temperatures occur together, the combined effect can be greater than any single trigger. Australian patients may need advice tailored to their suburb, occupation and daily travel rather than a general allergy plan.

  Unequal Effects Across Communities

  Climate-related respiratory risks are not distributed evenly. Children, older adults, people with asthma and those with limited access to healthcare may experience more severe consequences. Outdoor workers, including farmers, landscapers, emergency responders and construction crews, often have prolonged contact with dust, pollen and smoke.

  First Nations communities and people living in remote areas may face additional barriers, including long travel distances to specialist services, housing conditions and limited access to real-time health information. Australia’s healthcare system can provide strong clinical support, but prevention also depends on affordable medicines, culturally appropriate communication and reliable local services.

  Adapting Clinical Care And Public Health

  A changing climate calls for more detailed respiratory assessments. Clinicians may ask about wildfire smoke, storms, mould, workplace exposure, seasonal timing and recent weather events alongside the usual medication history. Symptom diaries linked to pollen and air-quality information can reveal patterns that are otherwise difficult to identify.

  Public health measures are equally important. Clear warnings before high-pollen days, thunderstorm asthma alerts and accessible air-quality data can help people adjust activities and treatment plans. Schools, workplaces and sporting organisations can reduce risk by making indoor alternatives available during smoke, extreme heat or severe pollen conditions.

  Prevention, Treatment And Ongoing Research

  Avoidance remains useful, but it must be realistic. Closing windows during peak pollen or smoke periods, showering after outdoor exposure, wearing a well-fitted mask in hazardous conditions and addressing household dampness can reduce contact with triggers. These measures should complement, rather than replace, an individual’s prescribed asthma or allergy treatment.

  Research is needed to clarify how climate variables interact across different Australian regions. Better pollen monitoring, integrated weather-health forecasting and studies of vulnerable populations could support earlier intervention. Collaboration between respiratory specialists, allergists, meteorologists and community health providers will help translate climate data into practical care.

  The central issue is predictability. Respiratory allergies are becoming more closely tied to changing seasons, severe weather and air quality, so patients and clinicians must watch the environment as carefully as they watch symptoms. In Australia, recognising the combined influence of pollen, bushfire smoke, storms, mould and dust is essential: climate change is altering the conditions for breathing, and prepared care can reduce its impact.

  Richard Russell Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford (United Kingdom)
• Mona Bafadhel King’s College London (United Kingdom)
  David Jackson Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, King’s College London (United Kingdom)
• James Chalmers University of Dundee (United Kingdom)
  David Price University of Aberdeen (United Kingdom)