Richmond, Virginia, was listed as the number one "Sneeziest and Wheeziest" city in America.
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you've probably noticed that this year has been one of the worst ever for allergy sufferers. Environmental groups are attributing this to global warming. The longer, warmer spring gives pollinating plants more time to release their pollen. On top of that, the ozone smog associated with climate change can cause plants to increase allergenic pollen production. Ozone on its own also increases allergic and asthmatic symptoms, so allergy sufferers are being hit with a "double whammy health threat," according to climate scientist Juan Declet-Barreto.
Declet-Barreto's employer, environmental advocacy group the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), has just released a report that names the 35 "Sneeziest and Wheeziest" cities in America. These are the cities where the combination of ozone gas and ragweed pollen are the most potent, and therefore allergy and asthma sufferers are likely to have the hardest time.
Richmond, Virginia, topped the list, with Memphis, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Chattanooga, Chicago, Detroit, New Haven, Allentown and Atlanta following close behind in the top 10. Although Ohio didn't have any cities that made the top 10, it is still the state with the greatest presence on the list, with seven cities included in the top 35. These cities included Dayton, Cleveland, Toledo, Akron, Cincinnati, Youngstown and Columbus.
The report also located the regions with the worst conditions for people with allergies. The Los Angeles basin, the Great Lakes, the Mid-Atlantic, New England and the area immediately surrounding St. Louis, Missouri, are all places to avoid if you suffer from pollen allergies and asthma.
If you live in one of the listed cities, a home air purifier can be your first line of defense against allergens. Contact US Air Purifiers for help finding the best air purifier for allergies today.