Asthma fear over UK ‘pollen bomb’
Sufferers told of ‘fatal’ pollution risk in run-up to Easter
Pollen on rise from warm weather A “POLLEN bomb” of toxic pollution is expected to hit Britain this week.
Asthma sufferers are being urged to take measures to avoid potentially fatal attacks.
Rising temperatures have led trees to spew out irritant pollen as traffic smog and factory fumes blow in from France.
When pollen and pollution levels rise at the same time they can create a “deadly” cocktail of irritants.
Pollution attaches to pollen forming supercharged allergy particles which are more likely to be felt in built-up areas.
Sonia Munde, of Asthma UK, said: “Around 3.3 million people with asthma are affected by pollen, which can cause wheezing, a tight chest or coughing.
“Trees have been releasing pollen for weeks but the warm weather will make levels spike. Pollen counts will hit “high” in the South, central areas and parts of the North, by the middle of the week, the Met Office said.
Government forecasts show moderate pollution building across the South and West and parts of the East today.
The smog is likely to clear in parts by the weekend but pockets of dirty air will remain into Good Friday, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said.
European air-monitoring service Prev’Air said ozone levels in areas including Scotland and southwest England could rise above the level the World Health Organisation classes as a concern. The number of asthma sufferes in the UK who are affected by pollen