Virginia Beach ranks among worst U.S. cities for people with allergies, report says
Here’s something to sneeze at.
The city of Virginia Beach has made the list of worst U.S. cities for people with allergies, according to a report from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
Results of the report were based on on total pollen scores (tree, grass and weeds), over-the-counter medication use for allergies and number of allergy specialists. Virginia Beach checked in at 11th worst out of 100 cities and placed within the top 10 in grass and weed pollen categories.
“Since that first report, seasonal allergies have worsened,” the report reads. “Climate change has caused the growing seasons to get longer and warmer, leading to higher tree, grass, and weed pollen counts. Some parts of the United States now have pollen year-round. The warmer temperatures also get trapped in urban areas, which impact air pollution.”
The report defines some problem grass species, including Kentucky blue, Bermuda and Timothy. Grass pollen is most common from April through early June but can sometimes be found year-round in warmer parts of the country. It can overlap with tree or weed pollen seasons.
As for weed pollen, AAFA cites ragweed as the worst offender for weed-allergy sufferers. About 15% of people in the U.S. are allergic to ragweed pollen, according to the report, and ragweed is a weed that grows throughout the country, especially in the Eastern and Midwestern states. Tree pollen causes the most springtime allergy complaints, and throughout the U.S., trees produce the most pollen from February through June.
“In some regions, like the South, trees may produce pollen as early as December or January and peak at multiple times during the year,” the report continues.
The report also said Virginia Beach residents tend to use allergy medication at a higher rate than other U.S. cities. Because temperatures have risen over time, pollen exposure has also gotten worse.
“Researchers found that climate change is responsible for about 50% of the increase in pollen seasons and about 8% of the increase in pollen concentrations,” the report reads. “Pollen particles in the air have known health effects, especially in the lungs and airways. Previous research has shown that increased pollen can have negative effects on allergies and asthma, viral infections, school performance, and emergency room visits.”
According to The Weather Channel, the allergy outlook for the next 15 days in Virginia Beach will range from moderate to very high.
Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com
