Less pollution to reduce allergies

Air quality has a major impact on the development of allergies…

“Air quality affects a person’s resistance to pollen. The more pollution, the more allergies.

Indeed, when we breathe polluted air, we deteriorate the quality of the mucous membranes of our respiratory organs. Therefore they become more fragile.

The only solution to combat air pollution affecting our breathing capabilities is to wear special masks.

Claudie Mouton is a practicing physician specializing in internal medicine allergology at Nancy University Hospital. And she enlightened us on this topic.

Two types of pollution

There are two types of pollutants. First, external pollutants. These are those that are associated with human activity.

” Nowadays it is mainly automobile pollution. There is less pollution from factories. Our region used to have pollution from mines that no longer exist.. […] Car pollution is extremely harmful for two reasons. It is very toxic to the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and weakens our secondary infections.“, explains Claudie Mouton.

And then there are indoor pollutants.

” Nancy in a bowl”

Our region is more polluted than others. ” Nancy in a bowl“,” Claudie Mouton clarifies, “ When the air does not circulate, as in Grenoble and some mountains, it causes significant pollution.“.

Strasbourg, located between the Black Forest and the Vosges, has the same basin, causing very high levels of pollution. In other words, the more air trapped, the more contaminants there are.

Taking a walk through the woods to get some fresh air is not necessarily the right decision. ” If you go to the Black Forest for some fresh air on the weekend, depending on the wind, pollutants will be dislodged. Depending on the weather and wind direction, you may inhale even more pollutants than in the center of Strasbourg.“,” says a practicing physician specializing in internal medicine allergology at the Nancy CHRU clinic.

” We have known for 40 years that environmental pollution affects people with allergies.”

Japanese scientists conducted research in the 1980s. They exposed group A to pollen without contamination. And they exposed Group B to pollen as well as pollutants. Group B (exposed to pollen and pollutants) developed many more allergies than Group A, which was exposed to pollen only.

” Thanks to this research, we have known for 40 years that environmental pollution affects people with allergies.. The sensitizing effect is greater when pollutants are used.“, Claudie Mouton clarifies. In fact, fine particles will change the pollen grain and make it more aggressive to the mucous membranes.

Today, 30% of the population suffers from pollen allergies. In 2050, according to experts, it will be 50% compared to 3.8% in 1968.