According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 60 million Americans suffer from various types of allergies every year.
What are they? Allergies are reactions to invasive substances entering the body and exist in many forms. Airborne substances like pollen, mold spores, animal dander and dust can cause allergic reactions ranging from mild — itchiness, runny nose and watery eyes — to severe and even life-threatening.
The presence and severity of airborne allergies vary across the country and depend on local factors like climate, flora, fauna and construction materials. To see where airborne allergens are the most and least severe, we have determined the best and worst U.S. states for allergies.
Key Findings
- Five of the ten worst states for allergies are in the South Central United States — Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas.
- The five best states for allergy sufferers are all in the Rocky Mountain region of the Western United States — Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Arizona and Colorado.
- The three best states for pollen allergies have the highest average elevation and relatively dry climates — Wyoming, Utah and Colorado.
- Vermont, Wisconsin and New Mexico have the most deaths per capita due to dust-related causes — while New Jersey, Oklahoma and Florida have the least.
- In West Virginia, there are 67.3 household dogs and cats per 100 people, the most of any state — in New Mexico, there are 18.5 household cats and dogs per 100 people, the least of any state.
- Google searches for “indoor mold” are the most common in Kansas — the worst state for mold allergies.
What We Did
To determine the best and worst U.S. states for allergies, HouseFresh developed an index of variables measuring the severity of various facets of pollen, dust, pet dander and mold allergies.
These factors include:
- The concentration of fine particle pollutants per cubic meter of air
- Google Trends searches for “Allergenic rhinitis due to pollen”
- City-level Allergy Capital rankings from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America
- Seasonal allergy symptoms report severity from WebMD
- The percentage of counties with logged instances of Ambrosia trifida (giant ragweed)
- Average wind speed from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Grass and ragweed pollen forecasts
- The age-adjusted mortality rate of deaths due to dust-related causes
- Dogs and cats per capita from the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Google Trends searches for “Indoor mold”
- Median home age
- The percentage of homes using gas heating
- Mold spore count forecasts
South Central U.S Is an Allergy Hotspot
A list of the worst states for allergies reveals some regional clustering. Five of the ten worst states for allergies, for example — Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Texas, are in the South Central United States.
This south-central cluster ranks highly for its high pollen counts. According to symptom counts collected by WebMD, ragweed is present in a relatively large share of the region and all five states have moderately severe to severe allergy seasons. The South Central United States also has high wind speeds that can spread pollen in the air and exacerbate symptoms.
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A list of the best states for allergies also reveals regional clustering. The five best states for allergy sufferers, for example — Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Arizona and Colorado — are all in the Rocky Mountain region of the Western United States. Ragweed is present in a relatively small share of this area and the pollen allergy season is among the least severe of any region in the country.
Ragweed Causes Misery for Allery Sufferers
The primary risk factor for those with pollen allergies is the presence of ragweed. Exposure to ragweed can also sensitize individuals to pollen allergy, inducing symptoms in those not genetically predisposed to ragweed allergies. While ragweed grows in virtually every part of the country — other than Alaska and most of Hawaii — the severity of ragweed pollen varies from state to state.
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Pollinating plants need water to grow and spread. As a result, dry climates are often favorable to individuals with pollen allergies. Pollen counts are also usually lower at higher altitudes, where the most common ragweeds are less likely to flourish. This is why the three best states for pollen allergies — Wyoming, Utah and Colorado — have the highest average elevation and relatively dry climates.
Dust Is a Major Issue in Vermont, Wisconsin and New Mexico
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, an estimated 20 million Americans have dust mite allergies. Dust mites are microscopic, insect-like pests that produce waste products that can cause mild symptoms like runny nose and watery eyes — or severe symptoms like persistent cough and congestion — in those with dust allergies.
Dust mites occur naturally and are often found in bedding, mattresses, carpets and curtains within the home. According to the American Lung Association, dust mites likely exist in at least one bed in 80% of homes in the United States. Dust mites need moisture to survive and thrive in humid environments.
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Most exposure to dust mites occurs in the home, but some of the most dangerous exposure to dust occurs in the workplace. Occupational exposure to high concentrations of dust is directly linked to the development of severe respiratory problems and, sometimes, fatal illnesses. And while most industries have air quality regulations to prevent workers, thousands of U.S. workers die annually due to dust-related causes.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vermont, Wisconsin and New Mexico have the most deaths per capita due to dust-related causes. In contrast, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Florida have the least.
More Pets in West Virginia Means More Allergies
Pets with fur shed microscopic dead skin flakes, which can linger in the air and cause symptoms like stuffy nose, itchy eyes and shortness of breath in those with pet allergies. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, cat and dog allergies affect 10% to 20% of the world’s population.
Pet allergies are likely to become more prevalent as pet ownership increases. Exposure to pets has also been proven to increase sensitivity to animal allergens in those without pre-existing pet allergies.
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While the best way to prevent pet allergy triggers is to avoid exposure to pet dander, an estimated 70% of U.S. households own a pet. The prevalence of pets varies heavily from state to state, with the number of cats and dogs per capita more than three times higher in the state where pets are most common than in the state where pets are least common.
In West Virginia, there are 67.3 household dogs and cats per 100 people, the most of any state. Meanwhile, in New Mexico, there are 18.5 household cats and dogs per 100 people, the least of any state.
People in Kansas Are Preoccupied With Mold Allergies
Molds reproduce through spores that can linger in the air like pollen and cause allergic reactions in those with mold allergies. Symptoms of mold allergies can include nasal congestion, sore throat, sneezing, dry cough, shortness of breath and skin irritation.
Outdoor mold can grow under fallen leaves or in rotting vegetation, while indoor mold often grows in basements, attics, cabinets beneath the sink, damp moldings and washing machines. While the exact incidence of mold allergies is unknown, estimates of mold allergy prevalence range from 3% to 10% of the general population, according to a 2015 paper published in the Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research journal.
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Mold grows in damp, dark places and flourishes in humid, moist climates. Other risk factors for indoor mold growth include old homes and gas heaters. In New York, the typical home is 65 years old — the oldest median home age of any state and 21 years older than the U.S. median.
Some 63.7% of homes use gas heaters, greater than the 52.4% national figure. These may be two reasons why Google searches for “Indoor mold” are more common in New York than all but four other states and why New York is one of the worst for mold allergies. Google searches for “indoor mold” are the most common in Kansas, the worst state for mold allergies.
Final Thoughts
If you feel like your allergies have gotten worse in recent years, you are not alone. Due to several factors associated with human-caused climate change, global temperatures and carbon dioxide levels are rising — causing more pollen production and effectively lengthening the pollen season.
According to one study published in 2021 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, pollen seasons start 20 days earlier than in 1990, areten0 days longer and feature 21% more pollen. Climate change has also been linked to increased mold and dust concentrations. Pet ownership is also growing, meaning more sneeze-inducing pet dander.
According to a 2021 survey conducted by healthcare company SingleCare, 82% of individuals with allergies believe that allergies affect their quality of life to some degree. Allergies can interfere with daily tasks and cause significant discomfort during the dreaded spring and fall months.
But while allergies can limit individuals from certain activities, knowing where different allergens are the most and least prevalent can help those suffering navigate travel and avoid triggering the worst of their symptoms. So, before you take your next trip, do you know the best and worst U.S. states for allergies?
SOURCES
American Veterinary Medical Foundation. (2022). American Veterinary Medical Association. amva.org
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. (2022). AAFA 2022 Allergy Capitals Report March 2022. aafa.org
BreezoMetter.com. (2022). Pollen Count API. breezometer.com
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. cdc.gov
Google. (2022). Google Trends. google.com
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. (2022). Average Wind Speeds. nrc.gov
United Health Foundation. (2022). Air Pollution. americashealthrankings.org
United States Census Bureau. (2022). Median Home Age. census.gov
United States Census Bureau. (2022). Percentage of Homes Using Gas Heating. census.gov
University of Georgia. (2022). Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida). eddmaps.org
WebMD. (2022). WebMD: Seasonal Allergy Symptoms Nationwide. webmd.com