---
attrs:
  .reference_type: 0
  Abstract: 'Thunderstorms have been linked to asthma epidemics, especially during the pollen seasons, and there are descriptions of asthma outbreaks associated with thunderstorms, which occurred in several cities, prevalently in Europe (Birmingham and London in the UK and Napoli in Italy) and Australia (Melbourne and Wagga Wagga). Pollen grains can be carried by thunderstorm at ground level, where pollen rupture would be increased with release of allergenic biological aerosols of paucimicronic size, derived from the cytoplasm and which can penetrate deep into lower airways. In other words, there is evidence that under wet conditions or during thunderstorms, pollen grains may, after rupture by osmotic shock, release into the atmosphere part of their content, including respirable, allergen-carrying cytoplasmic starch granules (0.5-2.5 microm) or other paucimicronic components that can reach lower airways inducing asthma reactions in pollinosis patients. The thunderstorm-asthma outbreaks are characterized, at the beginning of thunderstorms by a rapid increase of visits for asthma in general practitioner or hospital emergency departments. Subjects without asthma symptoms, but affected by seasonal rhinitis can experience an asthma attack. No unusual levels of air pollution were noted at the time of the epidemics, but there was a strong association with high atmospheric concentrations of pollen grains such as grasses or other allergenic plant species. However, subjects affected by pollen allergy should be informed about a possible risk of asthma attack at the beginning of a thunderstorm during pollen season.'
  Author: "D'Amato, G.; Liccardi, G.; Frenguelli, G."
  DOI: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2006.01271.x
  Date: Jan
  ISSN: 1398-9995
  Issue: 1
  Journal: Allergy
  Keywords: 'Asthma/*epidemiology/etiology; Disease Outbreaks; Humans; *Rain; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/*epidemiology/etiology; Seasons'
  Language: eng
  Notes: "D'Amato, G Liccardi, G Frenguelli, G Journal Article Review Denmark Allergy. 2007 Jan;62(1):11-6."
  Pages: 11-16
  Title: Thunderstorm-asthma and pollen allergy
  Volume: 62
  Year: 2007
  _record_number: 18458
  _uuid: 713cd919-826b-426d-bf51-761a58ec7f22
  reftype: Journal Article
child_publication: /article/10.1111/j.1398-9995.2006.01271.x
description: Thunderstorm-asthma and pollen allergy
display_name: Thunderstorm-asthma and pollen allergy
href: http://52.38.26.42:8080/reference/713cd919-826b-426d-bf51-761a58ec7f22.yaml
identifier: 713cd919-826b-426d-bf51-761a58ec7f22
publications:
  - /report/usgcrp-climate-human-health-assessment-2016/chapter/air-quality-impacts/finding/worsened-allergy-asthma-conditions
  - /report/usgcrp-climate-human-health-assessment-2016/chapter/air-quality-impacts
  - /report/usgcrp-climate-human-health-assessment-2016
type: reference
uri: /reference/713cd919-826b-426d-bf51-761a58ec7f22