Zuberbier Torsten, Stevanovic Katarina, Ansotegui Ignacio J, Anto Josep M, Bergmann Karl-Christian, D'Amato Gennaro, Grüntuch-Ernst Almut, Haahtela Tari, Maurer Marcus, Pietikäinen Sirpa, Christou Demetrios, Bousquet Jean
Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Allergology and Immunology, Berlin, Germany; Institute of Allergology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Allergology and Immunology, Berlin, Germany; Institute of Allergology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2024 Feb;12(2):347-354. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2023.10.028. Epub 2023 Oct 18.
Green roof gardens are important for planetary health by mitigating the effects of urbanization. Because of the nature of green roof gardens, only particular plants can be used. The allergologic impact of these plants remains ill-characterized and guidance on building allergy-friendly green roof gardens is missing. To address this gap, we investigated the plant spectrum of several German green roof companies and categorized plants based on their primary pollination mechanism. Except for grasses, most plants were insect-pollinated and of low allergenicity. In addition, we conducted a review on the allergologic impact of plants used for green roof gardens. Our aim was to provide landscape architects with guidance on how to develop allergy-friendly green roof gardens. We highlight the need for universally accepted standards for assessing the allergenicity of roof top plants. Also, we recommend the joint development, by green roof producers and allergists, of criteria for allergy-friendly roof gardens. Their implementation may help to reduce the risk of allergen sensitization and allergy exacerbation, such as by avoiding the use of wind-pollinated plants of proven allergenicity including grasses. Green infrastructure, such as green roofs, should benefit planetary health without increasing the prevalence and burden of allergies.
