PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

EU membership may have led to allergy increase in rural Poland

2013-12-16
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Sam Wong
sam.wong@imperial.ac.uk
44-207-594-2198
Imperial College London
EU membership may have led to allergy increase in rural Poland Poland's entry into the EU may have had the surprising consequence of increasing allergies in rural villages, according to a new study. Surveys show that the prevalence of atopy, a predisposition towards allergic reactions, jumped from seven per cent to 20 per cent in villages in southwest Poland between 2003 and 2012. Scientists believe the rise is linked to changes in farming practices that occurred when Poland adopted of the EU Common Agricultural Policy. In 2003, many villagers kept cows or pigs on their land, but after joining the EU it became uneconomical to do so. Exposure to farm animals, especially at a young age, is thought to protect against developing allergies. The findings add to evidence that westernised lifestyles increase the risk of allergic diseases. Previous research has suggested that farm dwellers, especially children who grow up on farms, have lower rates of hayfever and atopy than people living in towns. Study author Professor Paul Cullinan, from the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London, said: "Asthma, hayfever, and other allergic diseases are becoming more common in many countries and there's growing evidence that they're linked to modern, clean lifestyles. "We found that rapid changes in farming practices after Poland joined the EU were accompanied by a sharp increase in allergies over a very short period of time. It's likely that similar changes are occurring in other places in Europe, and we can expect that elsewhere in the world, we may see major increases in allergies, asthma and hayfever over the coming decades as countries become more westernised and less rural." Researchers from Wroclaw Medical University and Imperial College London conducted surveys in villages and a small town in southwest Poland in 2003, one year before Poland joined the EU, and 2012, to study the prevalence of asthma, hayfever, and atopy, which is diagnosed with a skin prick test. In 2003, 7.3 per cent of villagers tested positive for atopy, compared with 20 per cent of townspeople. In 2012, the prevalence of atopy in villages had risen to 19.6 per cent. Hayfever also rose, from 3.0 per cent to 7.7 per cent, but the prevalence of asthma did not change significantly. In towns, there were no changes in the prevalence of allergies. Twenty-four per cent of village dwellers had regular or occasional contact with cows in 2003, but this fell to four per cent in 2012. Thirty-three per cent had contact with pigs in 2003 but only 14 per cent in 2012. The study appears in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and was funded by the National Science Centre, Poland. ### For more information please contact:

Sam Wong
Research Media Officer
Imperial College London
Email: sam.wong@imperial.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)20 7594 2198
Out of hours duty press officer: +44(0)7803 886 248

Notes to editors

1. Reference: B. Sozanska et al. 'Atopy and allergic respiratory disease in rural Poland before and after accession to the European Union.' Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2013. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2013.10.035

2. About Imperial College London

Consistently rated amongst the world's best universities, Imperial College London is a science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research that attracts 14,000 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international quality. Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and business, delivering practical solutions that improve quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture.

Since its foundation in 1907, Imperial's contributions to society have included the discovery of penicillin, the development of holography and the foundations of fibre optics. This commitment to the application of research for the benefit of all continues today, with current focuses including interdisciplinary collaborations to improve global health, tackle climate change, develop sustainable sources of energy and address security challenges.

In 2007, Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust formed the UK's first Academic Health Science Centre. This unique partnership aims to improve the quality of life of patients and populations by taking new discoveries and translating them into new therapies as quickly as possible.

Website: http://www.imperial.ac.uk


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Life's not a squeeze for pregnant women

2013-12-16
Life's not a squeeze for pregnant women Pregnant women accurately judge the space needed to accommodate their growing bodies Despite their changed body size, pregnant women are just as good as other people at judging whether they are able to fit through openings, ...

Brittle-bone babies helped by fetal stem cell grafts

2013-12-16
Brittle-bone babies helped by fetal stem cell grafts Osteogeneis imperfecta (OI) is a congenital bone disease that causes stunted growth and repeated, painful fracturing. Ultrasound scans can reveal fractures already in the fetus, and now an international team of researchers ...

Nearby failed stars may harbor planet

2013-12-16
Nearby failed stars may harbor planet Pasadena, CA— Astronomers, including Carnegie's Yuri Beletsky, took precise measurements of the closest pair of failed stars to the Sun, which suggest that the system harbors a third, planetary-mass object.The research is published as a letter ...

'Superbugs' found breeding in sewage plants

2013-12-16
'Superbugs' found breeding in sewage plants Rice U. study: 2 wastewater treatment plants in China fail to kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria HOUSTON – (Dec. 16, 2013) – Tests at two wastewater treatment plants in northern China revealed antibiotic-resistant bacteria were ...

Scientists identify molecular biomarkers of vaccine immunity

2013-12-16
Scientists identify molecular biomarkers of vaccine immunity Comparison of genes induced by 5 different vaccines Testing the efficacy of vaccines in clinical trials takes years, even decades. Yet challenging infections like HIV, malaria and dengue are striking today. ...

Discovered diversity of antiviral bacteria

2013-12-16
Discovered diversity of antiviral bacteria Study explores evolution of bacteria that can be used to fight dengue This news release is available in Portuguese. Wolbachia, a symbiont that resides naturally up to 70% of all insect species, are probably ...

Graphene nanoribbons an ice-melting coat for radar

2013-12-16
Graphene nanoribbons an ice-melting coat for radar Rice University discovery is cheaper, lighter and more effective than current deicers HOUSTON – (Dec. 16, 2013) – Ribbons of ultrathin graphene combined with polyurethane paint meant for cars is just right for deicing sensitive ...

Regulation of cancer-causing protein could lead to new therapeutic targets

2013-12-16
Regulation of cancer-causing protein could lead to new therapeutic targets CINCINNATI—Researchers with the Cincinnati Cancer Center (CCC) and the University of Cincinnati (UC) Cancer Institute have discovered a new regulation for the cancer-causing ...

ACA brings legal immigrants opportunities as well as responsibilities

2013-12-16
ACA brings legal immigrants opportunities as well as responsibilities Report suggests 6 million legal immigrants may obtain health coverage through new law WASHINGTON, DC (December 16, 2013)—The Affordable Care ...

First clinical study of computer security conducted at Polytechnique Montreal

2013-12-16
First clinical study of computer security conducted at Polytechnique Montreal This news release is available in French. Montreal, December 16, 2013 - Installing computer security software, updating applications regularly and making sure not to open ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

iRECODE: A new computational method that brings clarity to single-cell analysis

New NUS-MOH study: Singapore’s healthcare sector carbon emissions 18% lower than expected, a milestone in the city-state’s net zero journey

QUT scientists create material to turn waste heat into clean power

Major new report sets out how to tackle the ‘profound and lasting impact’ of COVID-19 on cardiovascular health

Cosmic crime scene: White dwarf found devouring Pluto-like icy world

Major report tackles Covid’s cardiovascular crisis head-on

A third of licensed GPs in England not working in NHS general practice

ChatGPT “thought on the fly” when put through Ancient Greek maths puzzle

Engineers uncover why tiny particles form clusters in turbulent air

GLP-1RA drugs dramatically reduce death and cardiovascular risk in psoriasis patients

Psoriasis linked to increased risk of vision-threatening eye disease, study finds

Reprogramming obesity: New drug from Italian biotech aims to treat the underlying causes of obesity

Type 2 diabetes may accelerate development of multiple chronic diseases, particularly in the early stages, UK Biobank study suggests

Resistance training may improve nerve health, slow aging process, study shows

Common and inexpensive medicine halves the risk of recurrence in patients with colorectal cancer

SwRI-built instruments to monitor, provide advanced warning of space weather events

Breakthrough advances sodium-based battery design

New targeted radiation therapy shows near-complete response in rare sarcoma patients

Does physical frailty contribute to dementia?

Soccer headers and brain health: Study finds changes within folds of the brain

Decoding plants’ language of light

UNC Greensboro study finds ticks carrying Lyme disease moving into western NC

New implant restores blood pressure balance after spinal cord injury

New York City's medical specialist advantage may be an illusion, new NYU Tandon research shows

Could a local anesthetic that doesn’t impair motor function be within reach?

1 in 8 Italian cetacean strandings show evidence of fishery interactions, with bottlenose and striped dolphins most commonly affected, according to analysis across four decades of data and more than 5

In the wild, chimpanzees likely ingest the equivalent of several alcoholic drinks every day

Warming of 2°C intensifies Arctic carbon sink but weakens Alpine sink, study finds

Bronze and Iron Age cultures in the Middle East were committed to wine production

Indian adolescents are mostly starting their periods at an earlier age than 25 years ago

[Press-News.org] EU membership may have led to allergy increase in rural Poland