How air quality influences allergies.

What Allergists Say About Air Quality

Allergists help patients identify and manage environmental triggers that affect their health. Many of the most common allergens, including dust mites, pollen, pet dander, and mold, circulate in the air we breathe. Understanding how air quality affects allergic reactions can help individuals create healthier environments and reduce exposure to common triggers.

Part of the Immune System & Air Quality series Other pages in series

Key Insights

Allergists recognize air quality as an important factor in allergy management, since common triggers like pollen, dust mites, pet dander, mold, and air pollution are all present in the air we breathe.
Poor air quality can worsen allergic conditions by increasing inflammation, irritating the respiratory tract, and making the immune system more sensitive to allergens.
Air pollution may contribute to more frequent or severe symptoms for conditions such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever), asthma, and environmental allergies.
Reducing exposure to airborne allergens and pollutants can be an important part of managing allergy symptoms and supporting long-term respiratory health.
Creating a cleaner indoor environment may help limit exposure to common allergy triggers, complementing other strategies recommended by allergists to improve comfort and overall well-being.

About the Field

Allergists are physicians who specialize in diagnosing, treating, and managing allergies, asthma, and other conditions involving abnormal immune responses. They help patients identify triggers that may contribute to symptoms such as sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, skin irritation, respiratory discomfort, and allergic reactions [1].

Because allergic conditions are often influenced by environmental exposures, allergists frequently evaluate how factors such as pollen, mold, dust mites, pet dander, and air pollution may affect symptom severity. In addition to treating existing conditions, allergists work with patients to develop strategies that help reduce exposure to triggers and improve long-term symptom management.

Research suggests that air quality can play an important role in allergic health. Airborne pollutants and particulate matter may contribute to inflammation, increase sensitivity to allergens, and worsen symptoms in individuals with existing allergic conditions [2,3].

Air Quality & Allergic Health

Air quality can have a significant impact on allergic health. Airborne pollutants such as particulate matter, ozone, and traffic-related pollution may irritate the respiratory tract and interact with the immune system in ways that increase inflammation and allergic responses [2,3].

For individuals with allergies, exposure to pollutants may worsen existing symptoms and increase sensitivity to common environmental triggers. Pollutants can also interact with allergens such as pollen and mold, potentially increasing their ability to provoke allergic reactions.

Because allergic conditions are closely connected to the environment, understanding and reducing exposure to airborne irritants can be an important part of supporting respiratory comfort and long-term allergic wellness.

Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, occurs when the immune system reacts to airborne allergens such as pollen, dust mites, mold, or pet dander. Symptoms often include sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose, and itchy eyes.

Research suggests that exposure to air pollution may worsen allergic rhinitis symptoms by increasing inflammation within the nasal passages and enhancing the body’s response to allergens [2,3]. For many individuals, both outdoor and indoor air quality can influence the frequency and severity of symptoms throughout the year.

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that frequently occurs alongside allergies. In many cases, exposure to allergens or airborne irritants can trigger airway inflammation, wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.

Studies have linked air pollution exposure with worsening asthma symptoms and an increased risk of asthma exacerbations [2,3]. Because pollutants and allergens often coexist in the air, individuals with allergic asthma may be especially sensitive to poor air quality and environmental triggers.

Environmental Allergies

Environmental allergies develop when the immune system overreacts to substances commonly found in the surrounding environment. Common triggers include pollen, mold spores, dust mites, and pet dander.

Air pollution may influence how the immune system responds to these allergens and may increase susceptibility to allergic sensitization over time [2,3]. Pollutants can also irritate the airways and weaken natural protective barriers, potentially making allergic reactions more pronounced. As a result, air quality is increasingly recognized as an important factor in the development and management of environmental allergies.

Expert Perspective - Q&A with Experts

Hear from specialists across health fields about the role air quality plays in overall wellness.

How does air quality influence allergy symptoms?

Dr. Justin Rashtian

Air quality influences allergy symptoms in many ways. Many pollutants in the air such as cigarette smoke can irritate the nasal passages and cause symptoms that mimic allergies, such as nasal congestion, post nasal drip, sneezing, and coughing. In addition, on rainy days, allergens that are in the air such as pollens can break apart into smaller particles and travel easier into the lung, causing allergic asthma symptoms.

What are the most common airborne triggers you see in patients?

Dr. Justin Rashtian

The most common "allergic" airborne triggers are dust mites, animal danders (such as dogs and cats), pollens (tree pollens, grass pollens, weed pollens), and mold spores. In addition, some people have "non-allergic" irritation of their sinuses from airborne triggers such as perfurmes/fragrances, strong odors (ie chlorox), smoke, smog.

How can indoor air contribute to ongoing allergy issues?

Dr. Justin Rashtian

Indoor air can contribute to ongoing allergy issues if there are lots of "aeroallergens" circulating. For example, if someone is living with a dog or cat that they are allergic to, there will constantly be allergenic proteins from that dog or cat circulating in the air, which will get into the airway and trigger an allergic response. The same can happen with allergenic proteins from dust mites, cockroaches, mice, and other house pets such as guinea pigs, birds, and rabbits.

Are some individuals more sensitive to airborne allergens than others?

Dr. Justin Rashtian

Yes, some individuals are more "sensitized" to airborne allergens, meaning some people will develop more IgE allergic antibodies to allergenic proteins. This includes dust mites, dogs, cats, and pollens. People with higher levels of sensitization to these proteins tend to have more symptoms, such as nasal congestion, sneezing, itchy watery eyes, post nasal drip, coughing when they are exposed to these airborne allergens. People who are less sensitive may have more mild symptoms.

What is one thing people often overlook when trying to control allergies?

Dr. Justin Rashtian

People often overlook their options. For example, some people have allergic symptoms often, and do not think to get tested to figure out what is triggering them. It may take them years to realize that they are actually allergic to their cat or dog, which is causing their symptoms. This delay can lead to delay in treatment options such as medications, and ultimately allergen immunotherapy ("allergy shots"). People also overlook methods of reducing exposure.

In your experience, what are the most effective ways people can manage allergies and reduce exposure to airborne triggers?

Dr. Justin Rashtian

One way to effectively manage allergies is to control and reduce the exposure. In regard to indoor triggers, dust mite exposure can be reduced by frequent (at least once weekly) washing of bedding with hot water, using protective pillow covers and mattress covers, reducing carpeting and curtains in the bedroom. Dog and cat exposure can be reduced by not allowing the pet to sleep or spend a lot of time in the bedroom. Pollen exposure can be reduced by closing the windows as often as possible during the season. The most effective ways to manage allergies include medications (antihistamines, steroid nasal sprays, antihistamine nasal sprays), and allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots, allergy drops).

Meet the Experts

Dr. Justin Rashtian

Dr. Justin Rashtian, MD, is an allergist and immunologist practicing at NY Allergy & Sinus Centers, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of allergic and immunologic conditions.

Background: Dr. Justin Rashtian earned his Doctor of Medicine from Drexel University College of Medicine and completed internal medicine residency training at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. He then completed subspecialty fellowship training in Allergy and Immunology at National Jewish Health, a nationally recognized center for respiratory and immunologic disease. Dr. Rashtian currently practices as an allergist at NY Allergy & Sinus Centers, where he evaluates and treats patients with asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergies, and other immunologic disorders. His combined training in internal medicine and allergy/immunology provides a broad clinical foundation for reviewing content related to allergic disease, immune-mediated conditions, and general adult medicine. Dr. Rashtian brings direct clinical experience and academic fellowship training to the review of allergy and immunology-related health content.

Learn more

Reducing Airborne Allergy Triggers at Home

Indoor air can carry many of the allergens that trigger sneezing, congestion, and irritation. Improving air quality helps remove airborne particles that contribute to allergy symptoms, creating a more comfortable living space for those with sensitivities.

Explore Air Purifiers Designed to Capture Allergens

References

[1]

Bernstein DI, Pacheco K, Lemiere C. How Allergists Can Perform an Occupational History in Every Patient. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 2024 Aug;12(8):1951–8. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38761860/
[2]

Sergio Del Giacco, Rosenwasser LJ, Crisci CD, Frew AJ, Kaliner M, Bee Wah Lee, et al. What is an Allergist? World Allergy Organization Journal. 2008 Jan 1;1(1):19–20. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3650953/
[3]

Shaker M, Mauger D, Fuhlbrigge AL. Value-Based, Cost-Effective Care: The Role of the Allergist-Immunologist. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice [Internet]. 2022 Aug 6 [cited 2022 Aug 20]; Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213219822007474