Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Predicting Regional Allergy Hotspots in Future Climate Scenarios – Putting the Where & When on Wheezing
EPA Grant Number: R834359Title: Predicting Regional Allergy Hotspots in Future Climate Scenarios – Putting the Where & When on Wheezing
Investigators: Foster, David R. , Rogers, Christine A. , Stinson, Kristina
Institution: Harvard University , University of Massachusetts - Amherst
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: September 1, 2009 through August 31, 2013 (Extended to August 31, 2014)
Project Amount: $898,634
RFA: Climate Change and Allergic Airway Disease (2008) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Climate Change , Human Health
Objective:
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
Conclusions:
By combining field sampling, geographic information system (GIS) analysis, and controlled experiments we have generated unique datasets to help predict when and where pollen allergies caused by common ragweed are most likely to increase in response to changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide. Specifically, we have (1) mapped common ragweed abundance as a function of regional climate patterns; (2) demonstrated landscape-level ecological variation in allergenic plant responses to environmental conditions in urban and rural ecosystems of Massachusetts; (3) documented fine-scaled landscape and temporal variation in atmospheric pollen counts across Massachusetts; and (4) provided unique data showing that not all ragweed populations within a given region are alike and will have different responses to predicted increases in levels of CO2 in the atmosphere. Our datasets include evidence for how climate change may affect (i) timing of pollen production (onset, peak and duration); (ii) pollen output; and (iii) allergic potency (Amb-1 protein levels). We can conclude that: climate has a role on the production and distribution of pollen, and that environmental conditions differentially affect growth, distribution and phenology of allergenic plant species. As a result, we can begin to better understand ragweed allergy potential under future climate scenarios.
Journal Articles on this Report : 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
Other project views: | All 13 publications | 1 publications in selected types | All 1 journal articles |
---|
Type | Citation | ||
---|---|---|---|
|
Stinson KA, Albertine JM, Hancock LMS, Seidler TG, Rogers CA. Northern ragweed ecotypes flower earlier and longer in response to elevated CO2: what are you sneezing at? Oecologia 2016;182(2):587-594. |
R834359 (Final) |
Exit Exit |
Supplemental Keywords:
Common ragweed, pollen, allergy, Amb-A1 protein, RFA, Health, Scientific Discipline, Air, Health Risk Assessment, climate change, Air Pollution Effects, Risk Assessments, Ecology and Ecosystems, Atmosphere, environmental monitoring, ecosystem models, climatic influence, future projections, allergic airway disease, global vegetation models, climate models, allergens, air quality
Relevant Websites:
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.
Project Research Results
- 2013 Progress Report
- 2012 Progress Report
- 2011 Progress Report
- 2010 Progress Report
- Original Abstract
1 journal articles for this project