Project title

The Influence of Air Pollution, Pollen, and Ambient Temperature on Asthma and Allergies in Changing Climate

We assessed both short-term and long-term effects of environmental exposures related to changing climate on asthma and allergies and mortality in two population-based studies. We developed new methods for measuring and modelling both short-term and life-time environmental exposure, including personal monitoring and modelling of pollen exposure and global modelling of meteorological factors and ambient air pollution. Results from the Espoo Cohort Study indicate that prenatal exposure to air pollution increases the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight as well as risk of developing asthma. Life-time exposure increases the incidence of asthma. We made a novel finding of an association between abundant levels of alder and mortality from respiratory and cardiovascular causes in 1994-2014 in the Helsinki Metropolitan area. We also made projections of excess mortality due to ambient temperature and heatwaves during the 21st century under different climate change scenarios.