Risk assessment of pollen allergy in urban environments

According to WHO, by 2050, at least one person out of two will suffer from an allergy disorder resulting from the accelerating air pollution associated with toxic gas emissions and climate change. Airborne pollen, and associated allergies, are major public health topics during the pollination season, and their effects are further strengthened due to climate change. Therefore, assessing the airborne pollen allergy risk is essential for improving public health. This study presents a new computational fluid dynamics methodology for risk assessment of local airborne pollen transport in an urban environment. Specifically, we investigate the local airborne pollen transport from trees on a university campus in the north of France. We produce risk assessment maps for pollen allergy for five consecutive days during the pollination season. The proposed methodology could be extended to larger built-up areas for different weather conditions. The risk assessment maps may also be integrated with smart devices, thus leading to decision-aid tools to better guide and protect the public against airborne pollen allergy.

Automated summary

According to WHO, it is predicted that by 2050, at least half of the population will suffer from allergy disorders due to increasing air pollution, toxic gas emissions, and climate change. Airborne pollen and associated allergies are major concerns for public health during the pollination season. Therefore, evaluating the risk of airborne pollen allergies is crucial for improving public health. This study introduces a new computational fluid dynamics methodology to assess the local transport of airborne pollen in an urban environment. The methodology was applied to analyze the airborne pollen transport from trees on a university campus in northern France and generate risk assessment maps for pollen allergy. These maps can be used to develop decision-aid tools and enhance public protection against airborne pollen allergies.