The American allergy season is arriving earlier, lasting longer, and triggering more severe symptoms—and climate change is to blame. But what’s fueling the climate crisis itself? Increasingly, experts are pointing to industrial animal agriculture as a primary driver, linking the foods we eat with the air we breathe.
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How climate change impacts allergy season
Now, a new study published in The Laryngoscope draws a direct line between climate-related shifts in pollen production and the worsening of allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, in the US. The review, led by researchers at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, analyzed 30 peer-reviewed studies conducted between 2000 and 2023. Of those studies, 16 reported longer pollen seasons or elevated pollen concentrations that were explicitly attributed to global warming. Four others cited a corresponding rise in healthcare usage tied to allergic rhinitis, especially among low-income communities. Two called for more education on climate-related health impacts within the medical profession.
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“Physicians are uniquely positioned to witness the impact of allergic rhinitis on patient outcomes and can adapt their practice as climate change intensifies,” said corresponding author Alisha R. Pershad, BS, a third-year medical student at George Washington University.
“As trusted voices in the community, they should leverage their frontline experience to advocate for meaningful change in addressing the climate crisis.”
One of the most significant findings from the research: total pollen emissions in the US are projected to increase by between 16 and 40 percent by the end of the century. In addition, pollen seasons may be extended by up to 19 days. These shifts are not just minor nuisances. Longer, more intense pollen seasons increase the incidence and severity of respiratory allergies, which are already among the most common chronic conditions in the country.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25.7 percent of US adults and 18.9 percent of children experienced seasonal allergies in 2021—a dramatic long-term rise from the 1970s, when less than 10 percent of Americans were affected. Researchers point to factors such as higher atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, warmer temperatures, and urbanization as key contributors—all of which also intersect with how we produce our food.
The animal agriculture-climate link
Animal agriculture, and in particular the meat industry, is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions globally. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that livestock farming accounts for 14.5 percent of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, largely due to methane produced by ruminants like cows and sheep. In addition to methane, deforestation for grazing land and animal feed crops further exacerbates the climate problem. Research shows that beef production is responsible for 41 percent of tropical deforestation, particularly in the Amazon Basin.
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The feedback loop is clear: industrial meat production drives climate change, climate change extends pollen seasons and increases allergen levels, and those elevated exposures cause more people to get sick—and stay sick longer. The result is a growing national health burden that disproportionately affects children, seniors, and economically disadvantaged populations.
Plant growth is heavily influenced by climate variables like temperature and CO2. When these rise, as they have over the past several decades, plants produce more pollen. The increased allergenic load can trigger stronger immune responses, heightening the risk for conditions like asthma and hay fever. A 2022 study published in Nature Communications predicted a steep rise in pollen emissions across the US by 2100, stating that climate-related factors would be the dominant force behind this increase.
Healthcare systems impact
Healthcare systems are beginning to feel the pressure. Asthma and allergies already cost the US economy billions each year in missed workdays, hospitalizations, and medications. As allergy seasons become longer and more intense, these costs are expected to surge. Researchers from the University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin have projected a 200-percent increase in pollen-induced respiratory hospitalizations in some parts of the country if climate change continues on its current trajectory.
Some physicians are sounding the alarm. In addition to Pershad’s call to action, the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health—which represents over 700,000 clinical practitioners nationwide—has emphasized the need for doctors to become more vocal about climate change as a public health emergency.
Dietary shifts
Dietary shifts could offer a meaningful intervention. Studies have shown that replacing meat-heavy diets with plant-based alternatives could cut food-related emissions by up to 70 percent. Such changes would not only benefit the environment but also reduce pollution-related diseases and improve population-level health outcomes.
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As the scientific evidence accumulates, the implications are becoming harder to ignore. The connection between meat, climate change, and allergic disease is no longer theoretical. It is playing out each spring in the noses and lungs of millions of Americans.
For more plant-based stories like this, read:
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