If you have been suffering from itchy eyes or feeling a tingling sensation in your throat lately, and yet you¡¯re not allergic to pollen, you may be experiencing another seasonal nuisance: yellow sand allergy.

Though many people know about the annual arrival in Japan of yellow sand ¡ª also referred to as Asian dust, or dust and sandstorms (DSS) ¡ª in the spring, fewer people know about the allergic reactions that it can cause in some people, which are potentially grave for high-risk groups.

In addition, experts warn that global warming could accelerate the problem in the coming years.