‘Super pollen’ and thunder fever to hit UK as hay fever and asthma sufferers are given health warning
Thunderstorms can trigger serious asthma attacks in sufferers especially children and young adults
HAY fever and asthma sufferers were yesterday warned of looming new horrors — super pollen and thunder fever.
Streets across the country have already been carpeted in plant dust after weeks of no rain.
And allergy expert Max Wiseberg said stormy and humid conditions in the next few days will whip up pollen levels further.
He said thunder and lightning will split the irritant particles into smaller more potent fragments — super pollen.
Max, of organic balms maker HayMax, said: “The dry weather has meant that we have ended up with high levels of pollen in the air and sitting on surfaces without being washed away."
“When the earth warms up and becomes moist this is lifted up into the air and causes allergies, because there is so much lying around this is likely to be a problem in the coming week or so.
“We have ‘ideal’ conditions over the next few days to trigger hay fever and allergies in people sensitive to pollen.
“We recently saw another type of super pollen caused when pollen combines with pollution.”
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The Met Office says temperatures will rise next week with thunder and rain also expected.
The South is expected to be warmest, seeing 77F (25C) by Wednesday.
Forecaster Oli Claydon said: “There is the potential to see temperatures in the mid 20s in parts by the middle of next week.
"This is due to warm, moist tropical maritime air coming in from the Continent.”
Asthma UK backed Max’s warning.
It said: “Thunderstorms can trigger serious asthma attacks in people with asthma, especially children and young adults.
“The windy conditions can cause high levels of pollen and mould spores to be swept up high into the air where the moisture breaks them into much smaller pieces.”