JAMA Clinical Reviews How Climate Change Affects Allergic Rhinitis and Sinusitis
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Dec 3, 2025 Neelima Tummala, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at NYU Langone Health, discusses the alarming impact of climate change on allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. She highlights how rising temperatures and CO2 levels are extending allergy seasons and increasing pollen production. Tummala shares practical strategies for patients, such as using purifiers and optimizing medication timing to align with pollen shifts. She emphasizes the importance of education and advocacy for public health in the face of climate challenges.
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Longer, Pollen-Rich Allergy Seasons
- Warmer years lengthen the freeze-free season, causing earlier tree blooms and extended ragweed presence.
- Rising atmospheric CO2 has increased pollen production, contributing to ~20% more airborne pollen than 30 years ago.
Quantified Rise In Pollen And Season Length
- A multi-station study found about 20% more pollen and an allergy season roughly three weeks longer versus 30 years ago.
- These measurable changes link climate trends directly to worsened allergic rhinitis burden.
Air Pollutants Link To Chronic Sinus Disease
- Chronic rhinosinusitis risk rises partly because allergic rhinitis increases susceptibility to sinus disease.
- Air pollutants tied to climate drivers (PM, ground-level ozone) inflame nasal mucosa and impair epithelial barriers, promoting chronic disease.