Gregg Mitman, professor of science and technology studies in the programs in history of science and history of medicine at the University of Wisconsin presented a biology seminar on February 20 titled "Breathing Space: An Ecological History of Allergy in America." The talk was based on Mitman's book to be published in the spring of 2007.
Professor Mitman began with the story of the popular actor Mr. T's "chainsaw massacre" of 100 acres of trees on his property in Lake Forest, Illinois, igniting a feud with neighbors and town officials, in his attempt to relieve allergy and asthma symptoms.
Ironically, Lake Forest was developed in the 1870s as an escape for the wealthy people of Chicago who were suffering from allergies and hayfever. The development of the transcontinental railroad brought more disease and other health threats, including hayfever, to the cities. "Hayfever first appeared in America as an upper-class disease around the time Lake Forest was founded," said Mitman. Hayfever seemed to affect mostly the educated and wealthy citizens, who blamed their symptoms on the excitement of city life. The allergy sufferers of Chicago looked to nature as the cure and carefully shaped an environment, with the help of renowned landscapers, in the community of Lake Forest that they thought would alleviate their symptoms. The new trees and plants, however, release pollen that had not before been in the area.
"Allergy is a disease of progress, a symptom and sign of modern times," said Mitman. The prominence of allergy in America today reflects the changes in the environment over the last 150 years. The movement west and the growth of industrial cities contributed to the spread of allergens. In part, these changes were due to people hoping to escape their allergy symptoms. "People modified spaces hoping to breathe more easily, but often exacerbated their symptoms," said Mitman.
Allergic disease is determined by many factors in the environment. With the development of drugs to alleviate the symptoms, the focus on treatment has shifted from the environment to the individual. One of the main messages of Mitman's book is that we need a more ecological perspective to combat allergy. "We need to focus on material relationships between humans and non-human nature," he said.
One way Americans in the 1880's dealt with allergy was to leave the area they were suffering in for more natural environments. This practice led to the development of places such as the White Mountains as tourist locations. Wealthy people spent the allergy season there and helped to shape the landscape of the area, helping it to prosper. American also moved west, away from the cities. Colorado was a place where it was believed "people could breathe easier," but as a result of a huge migration west, allergy followed settlers there. "The growth of allergenic plants followed movement," explained Mitman. This was a consequence of high numbers of allergy sufferers in one area (genetic effect) and the environmental changes they brought. When moving did not work, Americans tried to alter the environment, by removing plants like ragweed and using herbicides, which also had adverse effects.
After World War II, antihistamines were introduced, and people began to put faith in the complete technological control of nature. Modern Americans continue to favor a biomedical approach. Mr. T had grown up in public housing in Chicago, an "asthma zone" according to Mitman, and hoped to escape the city, which he did in 1986 when he moved to Lake Forest. However, his asthma symptoms followed; but now, he had the ability to alter his surroundings. While his neighbors were angry at the apparent destruction of the environment, "Mr. T was more like the founders of Lake Forest than they realized," said Mitman.
"Americans try to isolate themselves instead of facing the factors causing their suffering," said Mitman in closing. "We need to focus on prevention instead of treatment."
-- by Laura Trubiano '07
