EFFECTS OF EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS AND EARTHQUAKES ON ALLERGIC DISEASES

Extreme events such as heatwaves, wildfires, floods, and dust storms have been increasing in both frequency and intensity due to climate change and environmental degradation. Together with natural disasters including earthquakes, they create major risks for public health. These disasters not only cause acute injuries and infrastructure damage but also exacerbate allergic diseases, thereby adding to the chronic health burden. The recent global rise in asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis is explained less by genetic predisposition than by environmental exposures, altered pollen dynamics, air pollution, and biological agents such as mould. Change alters plant phenology, leading to longer pollen seasons and higher pollen loads, which increase sensitization and asthma exacerbations. Air pollutants act not only as direct irritants but also as immune adjuvants, amplifying allergic inflammation. During dust storms and wildfires, fine particulates and biological agents (bacteria, fungi, pollen) trigger strong immune responses that enhance allergic susceptibility. Floods create damp conditions that promote mould and dust mite growth and proliferation, leading to both acute and chronic exacerbation of al-lergic rhinitis and asthma. Earthquakes present a different dimension. Collapsed structures release respirable silica, asbestos fibres, heavy metals, and toxic particles that provoke acute asthma attacks, airway dysfunction, and respiratory infections, while long-term consequences may increase the risk for silicosis, mesothelioma, and chronic allergic diseases. Temporary shelters, often overcrowded, poorly ventilated, and humid, further aggravate these outcomes. Addressing allergic diseases in the context of disasters requires integrated strategies that include systematic air quality monitoring, strengthening of early warning systems, promoting mask use, improving indoor air quality in temporary shelters, and community-based preparedness programs tailored to allergic populations. In addition, identifying epigenetic biomarkers, conducting longitudinal cohort studies, and performing cost-effectiveness anal-yses of interventions will help to develop targeted and sustainable approaches. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the effects of extreme weather events and earthquakes on allergic diseases, discussing underlying mechanisms, clinical outcomes, and potential prevention strategies.