Meteorological Mechanisms Explaining Thunderstorm-Related Asthma

Associations between thunderstorms and asthma morbidity have been identified in multiple locations around the world. The most prominent hypotheses for thunderstorm-related asthma are linked with bioaerosols, and involve the roles of rainwater in promoting the release of respirable allergens from pollen and fungi and downdraft winds spreading the allergens near the surface. Other hypotheses that are independent of bioaerosols involve the production of irritant gases and charged particles by lightning as well as rapid cooling of air temperatures, each of which may promote an asthmatic response. A major limitation of existing studies is the use of meteorological data with poor spatial resolution and a lack of appropriate air quality data to explicitly support and/or refute any of the specific meteorological hypotheses. Increased interdisciplinary collaboration between health scientists and geographers, climatologists, atmospheric and exposure scientists will aid in discerning the factors linking thunderstorms and asthma.