In 1962, about 3% of French people suffered from allergies. Today, food allergies (to fruit, nuts, etc.) or even allergies to pollen (birch, cypress, grass, etc.) concern 25% to 30% of the French population. And according to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2050, 50% of French people will be allergic.
Asthma, a pathology generally linked to allergies, is also on the rise: 15 years ago, “only” 2% of the French population suffered from it. Today, this disease affects 7% of French people.
The culprits: air pollution and global warming
How can this worrying progression be explained? The increase in the number of people allergic to pollens, in particular, can be explained in two ways. First, there is the global warming. Indeed: in a drought situation, plants produce more pollen in order to reproduce. The lack of rain also leads to maintenance of allergenic substances in the air, which facilitates their inhalation.
Second, there is the atmospheric pollution. The fine particles (which are emitted in particular by road traffic) cause the “little bags” which contain the pollen and which are suspended in the air to explode, while irritating the mucous membranes which line our respiratory tracts. Result: the body considers the pollen as a threat, it develops antibodies… and this is where the symptoms of the allergy appear.
Source :The ParisianTuesday, May 2, 2023
