EAACI-COST workshop

Epidemiological evidence on the links

between aerotoxicants and allergic diseases

Berlin, October 13, 2011

Charité Hospital

Submitted by Dr Lorenzo Cecchi, Dr Isabella Annesi-Maesano and Prof Karl-Christian Bergmann

Rationale:

Exposures to bioaerosols and chemical pollutants are associated with a wide range of allergic and health effects with major public health impact, including acute toxic effects, allergies, infectious diseases, and cancer. Respiratory symptoms and diseases and lung function impairment are the most widely studied and probably among the most important aerotoxicant-associated health effects. In addition to these adverse health effects, some protective effects of microbial exposure on atopy and atopic conditions have also been suggested. A dose–response relationship has not been established for most agents and knowledge about threshold values is sparse.

 The purpose of the workshop is to collect major experts in the field of allergic diseases to present the state of art on the links between aerotoxicants and allergic diseases and identify unmet needs. Specific recommendations will be implemented.

 The workshop will be held at the occasion of the COST Action meeting in Berlin, October 14-15, 2011.

 Chairpersons:  Heidrun Behrendit (Germany)   Lorenzo Cecchi (Italy)

 11:00 to 13:00: From environmental exposure to bedside

The effects of environment on allergic respiratory diseases: state of the art

Gennaro D’Amato (Italy)                                                                                              25 min

Pathophysiology of the allergic response

Carsten Schmidt-Weber (Germany)                                                                               25 min

Data driven methods for investigating and forecasting symptoms and medication use in
allergy patients

Kostas Karatzas (Greece)                                                                                            25 min

 Clinical threshold of pollen

Karl Christian Bergman (Germany)                                                                               25 min

Discussion

Lunch

 Chairmen: Heidrun Behrendt (Germany)

                   Lorenzo Cecchi (Italy)

14:00 – 18:00: The impact of the environment on allergic diseases

Chemical pollutants and allergies – Including interactions between bioaerosols and chemical pollutants.

I Annesi-Maesano (France)                                                                                           25 min

The skin as an outdoor target organ

Johannes Ringe (Germany)                                                                                         25 min

The use of weather data and climate

Mikhail Sofiev (Finland)                                                                                               25 min

Moving from pollen to allergen count

Jeroen Buters (Germany)                                                                                             25 min

Standardization and homogenization of aerobiological data from the patient’s point of view

Uwe Berger/Siegfried Jager (Austria)                                                                           25 min

Discussion

Multidisciplinary Round table, jointly with the COST EUPOL MC: Future directions

Lorenzo Cecchi, Heidrun Behrendt