• Tips to Rid Your Home of Allergens This Spring
• Electrostatic vs HEPA Air Purifiers
• What is an Air Purifier
• How Air Purifiers Work
• Humid Areas at High Risk for Mold
• Air Fresheners Don't Freshen
• Atopy and Asthma
• Austin Air Systems - History and Products
• Determine the Level of Pollutants in Your Home
• Global Warming and Asthma/Allergies
• Honeywell - History and Products
• Household Sprays and Asthma
• Preventing Allergens in the Home
• Respiratory Infections and Nocturnal Asthma
• Basics of Green Building and Design
• Using Candles Safely
• Make Your Home Safe with Better Ventilation
• Tips for Spring Cleaning and Relieving Allergies
• Ban on Ozone Producing Air Purifiers

NRDC Reports Global Warming Will Increase Pollen in the Same Areas that Have Seen Increases in Smog

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), results of global warming will increase pollen in the same areas that have seen increases in smog.

Overall higher temperatures and longer seasons of warmer weather will add to the processes that help certain plants, like ragweed, produce more pollen. These types of conditions have also proven to increase the incidence of smog in certain areas around the country. Smog forms when tailpipe and smokestack emissions heat under the sun and form ozone, a harmful gas to humans and a contributor to global warming.

While pollen is responsible for a large number of seasonal allergies, ozone, a key ingredient in smog, can be blamed for increasing the suffering from asthma, allergies, as well as some heart and lung ailments. Individuals who suffer from both allergies to pollen as well as sensitivity to smog will have the most difficulty fighting these localized effects of global warming.

According to the NDRC, approximately 110 million people in the United States living in 38 counties, including most major metropolitan areas in the Mississippi Valley, Great Lakes Region, Southwest, and Eastern Seaboard, will feel the most effects of the increases in smog and pollen.

Since asthma sufferers are especially sensitive to rises in pollen counts and increases in smog, these individuals are at greatest risk of suffering from acute respiratory problems as temperatures rise. This includes the estimated 17 million adults and children around the U.S. who have asthma. As most of these people already know, allergies, like those triggered by pollen, are one of the many factors that can result in an asthma attack.

For the additional 36 million Americans with seasonal allergies, rising pollen counts mean added suffering during warmer times of the year. Everyone, however, should be aware of their local outdoor air quality and any potential pollutants or allergens in their area.

Resource article: http://www.thedailygreen.com/2007/10/18/global-warming-will-boost-asthma-and-allergies/7915/