Climate Change Impacts Air Quality

Climate change is expected to increase allergenic pollen in the air we breathe, increase mold growth in homes and businesses, and could increase air pollution from sources like wildfire smoke. The prevalence of asthma among Vermont adults increased by about 50% between 2000 and 2010. Adult asthma prevalence in Vermont has been significantly higher than the national rate since 2007, and was the 5th highest in the U.S. in 2014. About 57,000 adult Vermonters and 9,600 children report having asthma. Because pollen also affects many Vermonters who do not have asthma, further increases in allergy triggers could have widespread respiratory impacts to Vermonters.