Urgent warning to millions as Saharan dust cloud could trigger deadly health emergencies

AN urgent warning has been issued to millions of Brits as Saharan dust caused by Storm Celia could trigger deadly health emergencies.

Skies across southern Spain have already been coated with an orange dust, and experts have warned it’s making its way to the UK.

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Brits have been warned that a Saharan dust cloud could be making its way to some parts of the country, triggering potentially deadly asthma attacks[/caption]

BBC weather presenter Carol Kirkwood said it could reach southern parts of the UK by tomorrow.

“There has been very poor air quality today in parts of Spain, and it could well affect us in the southeast and East Anglia on Wednesday”, she said.

Studies have show that dust storms have a significant impact on health.

Dust storms are a source of natural particles, including very small materials, potential allergens, and pollutants and can be dangerous for people with lung conditions such as asthma and other allergies.

These storms distribute millions of particles through the air and increase the amount of particles above the allowable threshold for human health.

Experts at Asthma UK have warned that extreme weather events can trigger deadly asthma attacks for the 5.4 million sufferers in the UK.

They said that changes in weather, thunderstorms, hot and cold weather can all be dangerous.

There are two reasons that thunderstorms can trigger asthma attacks, they said.

“The air before a storm can feel very humid and close. Some people tell us this gives them a tight chest and a cough, and that they find it harder to breathe.

“During pollen season, the windy conditions during a thunderstorm blow lots of pollen high into the air.

“The moisture higher up in the air breaks the pollen into much smaller pieces.

“As these smaller pieces of pollen particles then settle back down, they can be breathed in, irritating the smaller airways of the lungs”, they added.

Dr Andy Whittamore clinical lead at Asthma UK previously said: “Saharan dust could pose a serious risk to the 5.4 million people in the UK with asthma.

“Dust and other types of air pollution are a well-known trigger for people with asthma.

“Toxic air can leave people struggling for breath and can cause wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and even a life-threatening asthma attack.

“People with asthma must make sure they carry their reliever inhaler (usually blue) with them at all times in case their symptoms worsen.

“We also advise people with asthma to continue to manage their condition with their preventer inhaler (usually brown) as this will help to reduce the inflammation in their airways and make them less likely to react to asthma triggers. “

According to Asthma UK, just under two thirds of people with the condition report that poor air quality makes their symptoms worse.

The official forecast from the Met Office states that the Northwest will be bright in the morning with scattered heavy showers later on.

Other parts of the country will be cloudy with showery rain turning heavier across some eastern areas.

There will also be a few brighter, warmer spells focused in southwestern areas.