According to research from the Centers for Disease Control, more Americans than ever are suffering from asthma. About one in 12 adults and one in 10 children suffer from the condition, and between 2001 and 2009 there was a 50 percent increase in asthma diagnoses for black children. Does that mean that Bloomberg's allergy-causing tree initiative is...racist?
New York, along with many other Northeastern states, had among the highest asthma rates in the country. The CDC argues that there are repercussions for everyone: "Asthma cost the US about $3,300 per person with asthma each year from 2002 to 2007 in medical expenses, missed school and work days, and early deaths." However, researchers are at a loss as to why asthma is on the rise, considering triggers like smoking have gone down. Dr. Rachel Miller told the Times, "There’s no easy singular explanation. The more we study this, the more it raises a lot of questions." We're sure there's a perfectly cromulent explanation.
[Ed. unrelated note: Today is, sadly, Jaya Saxena's last day at Gothamist; here's an Instant Message regarding this, her final post: "Jaya: i wanted to use cromulent before i left, but if it doesn't work that's fine. Me: i dont know what that means? Jaya: what!? a noble spirit embiggens the smallest man!? it's a perfectly cromulent word? and you think you deserve to post simpsons photos me: Now I feel shame." Happy trails, Rev. Java Sexana!]
