Weather variability in a decade and its current impact on airborne pollen and spores in Nsukka, Nigeria

Allergic diseases are triggered or exacerbated by contact or inhalation of pollen, fungal spores, dust mites, insect debris, animal epithelial cells, and some foods and substances [1]. People are exposed throughout life to allergens directly (externally) or after they enter their bodies (by inhalation or ingestion) [2]. Of these, airborne pollen and spores are the most dominant, pervasive, respirable and potent sources of allergen present in the indoor and outdoor atmosphere [3,4]. Pollen and spores allergen belong to Type One hypersensitivity [5]. Their proteins are immune modulatory substances, which play crucial roles in the sensitization and/or exacerbation of allergies such as seasonal allergic rhinitis, eczema/dermatitis, conjunctivitis, rhinoconjuctivitis, asthma, bronchial constriction and obstruction, pollinosis and aspergillosis [6]. It has been clearly demonstrated that exposure to indoor and outdoor airborne fungal spores, hyphal fragments or metabolites can cause a variety of respiratory diseases and also associated with poor control of asthma [7,8,9]. In the 21 st Century, allergic disorders have become a health problem of global significance, affecting all ages and ethnic backgrounds [10]. For the past 40 years the prevalence of asthma has in general increased and is still increasing worldwide in parallel with other indices of allergy [11]. The increase in allergic disorders, such as allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis covers up to 30 % of the world’s population [12]. About 10–30 % of the world’s population is affected by allergic rhinitis and more than 300 million are affected by asthma [13]. Abstract