Toxic caterpillars which cause vomiting, asthma attacks and horror skin rashes invade the UK with experts warning ‘keep away’

A PLAGUE of toxic caterpillars has invaded the UK with wildlife experts warning people not to touch the pests and report nests as soon as they spot them.
The latest wave of Oak Processionary Moths to arrive in Britain are so far confined to hotspots in the south east of England.
The moths – which are highly toxic in their caterpillar stage – first came to the UK from mainland Europe in 2005.
Hairs on the caterpillars – which live in and feed off oak trees – contain toxins which can cause severe skin rashes and asthma attacks as well as causing eye and throat irritations, vomiting, dizziness and fever.....

Read more here: thesun.co.uk

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Children Who Live Near Polluters Have Twice The Risk For Asthma

Outside Woodland Hills Academy in Turtle Creek, there’s a little playground with swings, a jungle gym and a couple spring-mounted toy horses. You can’t see it or smell it, but according to data gathered by Carnegie Mellon University, the kids who play there are breathing in about 8 parts per billion of nitrogen dioxide and about 5 micrograms per cubic meter of black carbon.
The school is downwind of U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson Works in Braddock. The facility has been making steel for almost 150 years, and during that time, nearby residents breathed in pollution spewed from its stacks.....

Read more here: wesa.fm

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Is It Time to Get Rid of Traditional Asthma Inhalers?

Scientists are working on ‘smart inhalers,’ as well as new medications that could make life easier for people who suffer from asthma attacks.
Millions of Americans live with asthma, a chronic lung disorder that can’t be cured and can cause fatal attacks.
When you breathe in something irritating — the trigger might simply be cold air — your airway might overreact and tighten if you have asthma.
It can swell up and fill with mucus, causing you to cough or wheeze.....

Read more here: healthline.com