Climate Change and Air Pollution: Interventions to Increase Adaptation and Resiliency in Respiratory Health

The symposium was delivered by the Advisory Board members of The Clean Breathing Institute at the ERS 2024 and sponsored by Haleon.

Healthcare professionals should provide clear, evidence-based guidance to support adaptation at the individual level to ensure resiliency against increasing air pollution.  

The discussion-based symposium video on climate change and air pollution emphasised the urgency for heightened awareness and action. Additionally, the Advisory Board members of The Clean Breathing Institute discussed adaptation strategies at the individual level to ensure resiliency against increasing air pollution. 

Key Insights from the Symposium: 

Climate change and air pollution affect people with respiratory conditions as well as healthy individuals. Recommendations should be personalised, based on an individual’s unique health status.

1. Behavioural Change

• Behavioural changes to protect respiratory health can be made both at home and outdoors.

2. Diet and Exercise

• Antioxidant-rich diets and pre-, pro-, and synbiotics support gut and respiratory health. 
• Exercising in polluted environments warrants caution.

3. Antioxidants and Anti-inflammatories

• Nasal washes may help remove pollutants from the nasal passages. 
• Steroids may help prevent asthma exacerbations caused by air pollution.  

1. Air Pollution Exposure Laboratory, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
2. Pulmocare Research and Education (PURE) Foundation, Pune, India
3. Faculty of Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK
4. TS Lo Foundation Professor of Paediatrics, The Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, China