Climate Change May Contribute To Ragweed Issue

The D.C. region has one of the highest concentrations of ragweed in the country, and climate change may be exacerbating the problem, according to a new report released Tuesday.

The D.C. area is in the top 10 for ragweed allergies, according to a new report put out by Quest Diagnostics Health Trends, and the report says the problem is getting worse.

Researchers believe there is a link to climate change. They believe climate is getting warmer which creates a longer blooming season, and this has led to a spike in the amount of ragweed and mold across the country for the past several years.

In 2009, the blooming season was a full one-month longer than it was in 1995, according to the study. Qwest Diagnostics says it is largest national allergy study ever conducted, with more than 2 million subjects.

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