Maxwell Bernstein | March 31, 2021

Asthma and seasonal allergies will become worse as temperatures increase from climate change according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. As temperatures warm, flowers and plants bloom earlier which increases the concentration of pollen and carbon dioxide. These higher concentrations of pollen exacerbate allergies and asthma.

Roughly 7.8% of Americans who are 18 and older have hay fever and 7.7% of adults have asthma. From 1995 to 2011, warmer temperatures have increased the U.S. pollen season from 11 to 27 days, a trend that will only increase the length and severity of seasonal allergies.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reported that asthma disproportionately affects Black, Hispanic, and native populations, who all have higher asthma rates, hospitalizations, and death. Social determinants and structural inequities such as systemic racism, segregation, discriminatory policies, socioeconomic status, education, neighborhoods and physical environments, employment, social support structures, and access to healthcare largely drive asthma disparities.