Thunderstorm asthma

Thunderstorms have often been linked to epidemics of asthma, especially during the grass flowering season; however, the precise mechanisms explaining this phenomenon are unknown. Evidence of high respirable allergen loadings in the air associated with specific meteorologic events combined with an an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inCurrent allergy and asthma reports Vol. 4; no. 5; pp. 409 - 413
Main Authors Taylor, Philip E, Jonsson, Haflidi
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Springer Nature B.V 01.09.2004
Subjects
Allergens - adverse effects
Asthma
Asthma - epidemiology
Asthma - etiology
Asthma - immunology
Disease Outbreaks
Humans
Lightning
Pollen - adverse effects
Rain
Wind
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Summary:Thunderstorms have often been linked to epidemics of asthma, especially during the grass flowering season; however, the precise mechanisms explaining this phenomenon are unknown. Evidence of high respirable allergen loadings in the air associated with specific meteorologic events combined with an analysis of pollen physiology suggests that rupture of airborne pollen can occur. Strong downdrafts and dry, cold outflows distinguish thunderstorm rain from frontal rain. The weather system of a mature thunderstorm likely entrains grass pollen into the cloud base, where pollen rupture would be enhanced, then transports the respirable-sized fragments of pollen debris to ground level where outflows distribute them ahead of the rain. The conditions occurring at the onset of a thunderstorm might expose susceptible people to a rapid increase in concentrations of pollen allergens in the air that can readily deposit in the lower airways and initiate asthmatic reactions.
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ISSN:1529-7322
1534-6315
DOI:10.1007/s11882-004-0092-3