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A groundbreaking study has revealed a direct link between global warming and increased risk of airway inflammation in humans. Researchers have found that rising temperatures and drier air, consequences of climate change, can dehydrate and inflame healthy human airways, potentially exacerbating conditions like asthma, allergic rhinitis, and chronic cough.
The cross-institutional study, published on March 17th in Communications Earth & Environment, highlights the growing threat of increased vapor pressure deficit (VPD). VPD, a measure of how “thirsty” the air is, rises rapidly as the Earth’s atmosphere heats up, leading to greater water evaporation and dehydration of ecosystems, including human airways.
“Air dryness is as critical to air quality as air dirtiness, and managing the hydration of our airways is as essential as managing their cleanliness,” stated lead author David Edwards, adjunct professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
The researchers conducted experiments exposing human bronchial epithelium cells to dry air, mimicking high VPD conditions. They observed thinner mucus and elevated levels of cytokines, proteins indicating inflammation, in cells exposed to dry air. These findings were consistent with theoretical predictions of mucus thinning and cellular compression under dry conditions.
Further studies on an animal model, exposing mice to intermittent dry air, confirmed that preexisting airway dryness significantly increased inflammatory responses. A climate model study also predicted that much of America will face elevated risks of airway inflammation by the latter half of the century due to rising temperatures and drier air.
The study also points to exacerbating factors such as mouth breathing and increased exposure to air-conditioned and heated indoor environments. The researchers suggest that the implications extend beyond airways, potentially affecting other mucosal tissues like the eyes, leading to conditions such as dry eye.
“This manuscript is a game changer for medicine, as human mucosa dehydration is currently a critical threat to human health, which will only increase as global warming continues,” said study co-author Justin Hanes, Ph.D., of Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Without a solution, human mucosa will become drier over the years, leading to increased chronic inflammation and associated afflictions.”
The researchers emphasized the importance of understanding airway dehydration to develop preventive and therapeutic interventions, as well as behavioral changes to mitigate the inflammatory impact.
Collaborators included researchers from Boston University, Imperial College London, Sensory Cloud Inc., Illinois Institute of Technology, and the University of North Carolina.
More information can be found in the full report: David A. Edwards et al, Global warming risks dehydrating and inflaming human airways, Communications Earth & Environment (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-025-02161-z
Disclaimer: This news article is based on information provided in the given research study. While the study presents compelling findings, further research may be needed to fully understand the long-term impacts of global warming on human airway health. Readers should consult with healthcare professionals for personalized medical advice.
