Can a single pollen measurement site provide exposure information for health research across an entire state? Results from a study of allergic-type asthma associated with thunderstorms (2007–2018)

The phenomenon of thunderstorm asthma in the U.S. remains poorly studied due to geographically sparse pollen collection sites. Using a 19-city study, we demonstrate that incorporating environmental characteristics, such as land cover of allergic-type pollen-producing grasslands and deciduous trees, can improve the prediction of thunderstorm asthma risk at far distances from pollen monitors. By increasing the precision of pollen estimates, we can improve the estimation of thunderstorm asthma human health risks and potentially optimize decisions for new pollen collection sites.