New report ranks Detroit 3rd worst in U.S. for asthma cases

DETROIT (WWJ) -- A new report has ranked Detroit as the third worst city in the United States for people with asthma, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

For years, Detroit has hovered in the top twenty, but experts say climate change, pollution, and Canadian wildfire smoke contributed to the rankings.

DMC asthma expert Dr. Garen Wolff saiid, among other things, hotter temperatures contribute to asthma attacks due to a higher amount of pollen in the air.

"We had the Canadian wildfires, and so we still have some impact from, you know, other regions specifically for those in Detroit, that impact our air quality," she said. "So, besides adding the fact that you have more pollen in the air, you also have the pollution. We are the Motor City, so a lot of our schools are next to highways and freeways, and then in certain parts of the Detroit — like Southwest Detroit — we still have the Marathon Petroleum refinery."

Wolff told WWJ Newsradio 950 they can't always pinpoint the cause of the asthma, but where you live can absolutely play a big factor.

"I have people that have moved to different areas of the city, or they've moved into older homes. And whether it's the home itself, or it is, again...if their home or school is located next to a plant or a highway, they have more symptoms," Wolff said. "And now their lungs are inflamed, they're chronically inflamed all the time, and now they need treatment."

Socioeconomic status also plays a major role, as inhaler costs can be pricey, she said.

Wolff said she hasn't personally treated anyone who has died from asthma exacerbations, but has seen an increase in both adults and children who've been admitted to the ER.

The top two worst cities, according to the report, are Allentown, Pennsylvania and Rochester, New York.

The full report is available online at this link .