Crop burning or stubble burning is quite common in the wheat sowing season. It leads to allergic conjunctivitis and aggravates pollen allergy symptoms.

Effect of Crop Burning on Pollen Allergy | Meri Sehat

Crop Burning And Allergies - Is There A Link?

Introduction

Allergic disorders are not a threat to life in most cases, but they do impair a person&rsquo;s functionality. It eventually has an adverse effect on an individual&rsquo;s physiological well-being and quality of life. However, these implications can be minimised if the <a href="https://www.merisehat.pk/disease/allergies">allergies </a>are detected early and treated appropriately. 
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Understanding Link Between Crop Burning And Allergies

Both indoor and outdoor activities can cause swelling and sinus pain, in addition to watery eyes, nasal congestion, and sneezing. Airborne allergens can cause hay fever or rose fever/ rose cold, which are seasonal or constant persistent allergies.

People with allergies usually have more than one type of allergy, and the most common are indoor/outdoor allergies. The triggers are grass pollen, tree pollen, weed pollen, mould spores, cockroaches, dust mites, cat or dog dander, and rodent urine.

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<ul>
	<li>
	<h5>Allergies In The United States</h5>
	</li>
</ul>

In the United States, more than 50 million people experience different types of allergies every year and it is the sixth leading cause of chronic illnesses. It is the most common health issue that affects children in the US, and every year 90,000 people visit the emergency room due to anaphylaxis.&nbsp;Medicines, food, insect bites, or stings are the most common anaphylactic triggers.

Furthermore, medicines cause the most common allergy-related deaths. Older adults and African Americans have the highest death rates because of allergies.

Seasonal allergies in the US equal 8% of adults and 7% of children. They usually occur during fall when pollen, trees, and grasses are in the air. Moreover, according to research from 2018, caucasian children are more likely to get hay fever compared to African American children. Allergies of the eyes are usually triggered by the same indoor/outdoor triggers<a href="#accordion">[1]</a>.

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<ul>
	<li>
	<h5>Allergies In The United Kingdom</h5>
	</li>
</ul>

Allergies are rising by 5% each year in the United Kingdom. The first wave of the allergic season started 50 years ago with enormous surges in asthma and hay fever. Currently, we are facing the second wave of allergic diseases, especially fatal food allergies. The figures from the year 2012 indicate that one in forty children suffer from serious allergies in the UK.

During the last decade, the emergency departments in the UK have seen an increase in anaphylactic shocks. More children and adults are being diagnosed with food allergies at present compared to the past.

One in three people is affected by allergic disorders in the UK, which is estimated to be around 20 million people. Although allergies are most common in children, 6-8% of infants have also been diagnosed with food allergies and have experienced anaphylaxis at some point. These numbers are reflected in the admission rates which have doubled. More people were admitted to hospitals with severe allergies seven times more between 2002 to 2012 compared to the 1990s.

One in four people in the UK have hay fever, and it equates to approximately sixteen million people. Also, the prevalence of allergies such as asthma, food allergies, and eczema in the UK is almost four times higher. Furthermore, allergic rhinitis is poorly managed and does not have enough recognition. The number of people being diagnosed with eczema, food allergies, and allergic rhinitis has increased over the last thirty years. The growing numbers are a cause of concern as allergies often severely restrict the sufferer&#39;s everyday activities<a href="#accordion">[2]</a>.

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<ul>
	<li>
	<h5>Allergies In Pakistan</h5>
	</li>
</ul>

Allergies and diseases related to allergies are very common in all parts of the world and involve all ethnicities. These diseases include allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, conjunctivitis, and eczema. However, the data on the prevalence of allergic diseases in Pakistan is limited, indicating a need for further exploration.&nbsp;

In recent times, allergic diseases, especially bronchial asthma is increasing worldwide. But there is no data available about the prevalence of allergic diseases among school-going kids in Pakistan. However, data is available for certain age groups i.e. adults.&nbsp;&nbsp;

To bridge this gap, researchers in Pakistan have conducted surveys to know the prevalence of allergic diseases among kids aged 3 to 16 years of age. They used the same questionnaires for data collection that had been used in Saudi and UAE in 2007. The survey was done in Karachi and distributed among various schools covering 2000 to 3000 individuals. According to the results, the frequency of asthma is 15.8%, while the frequency of allergic rhinitis is 28.5% in school kids. The parameters of the analysis included dry cough, eczema, wheezing, and breathlessness. The survey also highlighted that the presence of a smoker in the family increased the risk of asthma, dry cough, wheezing, allergic rhinitis, and breathlessness.&nbsp;

The study signified that school-going kids in Karachi displayed symptomatic allergies. It had also been postulated that indoor environmental exposure and family circumstances also play a role in increasing the chances of asthma and other allergies in kids<a href="#accordion">[3]</a>. 
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A survey was also conducted among healthcare workers to see the frequency of allergic rhinitis among them. These included doctors, dentists, nurses, technicians, and pharmacists. After the survey, it was noted that 13 individuals missed their work because of allergic rhinitis indicating work absence due to allergies<a href="#accordion">[4]</a>.

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Exposure to pesticides and crop burning in communities can cause allergies according to research. Studies have been conducted to review the effects of agricultural exposure on the respiratory health of kids. These studies were conducted predominantly in industrial agricultural areas.

These studies assessed exposure and its effect on various respiratory health outcomes, for example, asthma, measurements of lung function, and acute respiratory symptoms. It was found that pesticides influenced the respiratory health of children. Furthermore, exposure to agricultural burning influenced the respiratory health of kids and the effect was severely adverse. To summarise, a positive association between exposure to agricultural burning and adverse effects on the respiratory system was seen<a href="#accordion">[5]</a>.

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The burning of crops and their residue is becoming a serious problem in Pakistan, and is a cause of concern for both health reasons as well as climate change. This unfortunate situation is not only limited to Pakistan and applies everywhere else in the world, due to its mitigating effects. It has led to an impairment in the quality of air, heat waves, strong haze, and several health problems.&nbsp;

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The primary database of Punjab was used to assess the extent of the problem in Punjab, Pakistan. The health and environmental effects of crop burning residue were assessed. It was found that crop burning had a drastic impact on households with chronic and non-chronic diseases. Also, the severity of the diseases was seen to increase during the period of crop burning.

This situation can be avoided by adopting sustainable crop management practices. The first step towards this could be raising awareness among farmers and engaging them in this dialogue.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Key Points

<ul>
	<li>Allergic rhinitis is very common in most parts of the world, which includes Pakistan as well.</li>
	<li>Asthma, a very common allergy is associated with seasonal changes, pet dander, and other environmental factors.</li>
	<li>Respiratory problems due to crop burning are also of great prevalence.</li>
	<li>New policies and meaningful implications should be adopted to promote using the residues of crops in Pakistan to improve the situation.</li>
</ul>

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[1] Warren, C.M., Jiang, J. and Gupta, R.S., 2020. Epidemiology and burden of food allergy. Current allergy and asthma reports, 20(2), pp.1-9.

[2] Gupta, R., Sheikh, A., Strachan, D.P. and Anderson, H.R., 2007. Time trends in allergic disorders in the UK. Thorax, 62(1), pp.91-96.

[3] Hasnain, S.M., Khan, M., Saleem, A. and Waqar, M.A., 2009. Prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis among school children of Karachi, Pakistan, 2007. Journal of Asthma, 46(1), pp.86-90.

[4] Siddiqui, M.I., Dhanani, R. and Moiz, H., 2020. Prevalence of allergic rhinitis among healthcare workers and its impact on their work: A cross-sectional survey at a tertiary healthcare centre in Pakistan. JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 70(8), p.1432.

[5] Van Horne, Y.O., Farzan, S.F., Razafy, M. and Johnston, J.E., 2022. Respiratory and allergic health effects in children living near agriculture: A review. Science of The Total Environment, p.155009.

[6] Raza, M.H., Abid, M., Faisal, M., Yan, T., Akhtar, S. and Adnan, K.M., 2022. Environmental and Health Impacts of Crop Residue Burning: Scope of Sustainable Crop Residue Management Practices. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(8), p.4753.

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