The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has released a 2015 update of their "Sneezing and Wheezing" report from 2007. The report identifies U.S. cities with exposure to both ragweed pollen and high ozone levels, and explains how these factors combine to create a higher risk of allergies and asthma for residents of these cities. According to the NRDC, 109 million Americans, or a third of the country's population, live in these high risk areas.
Ragweed is the "principal source of pollen associated with allergic rhinitis," while ozone irritates the lungs. When both are present, allergy symptoms become even worse.
Climate change, which is associated with higher levels of both ozone and pollen, is contributing to the situation. As pollution continues and temperatures rise, allergies will probably get more severe.
"Many of the sources of ozone-producing chemicals — industrial facilities, electric power plants, and motor vehicles — also emit the carbon pollution that drives climate change," the NRDC explains. And when there's more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, plants can produce more pollen.
The NRDC has stressed how important it is to combat the forces that contribute to climate change and respiratory problems. The report refers to the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan, a proposed set of rules for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. The EPA is also "revising the ozone standard," as the American Lung Association has expressed dissatisfaction with the current standard.
If you're looking for a quick way to improve your allergy and asthma symptoms, you can look up the local pollen and ozone levels. If it's a particularly bad day for these irritants, you may want to limit your outdoor activities and keep your windows closed as much as possible.
For more allergy solutions, you can visit Allergy Be Gone's store for a wide range of allergy control products.
