EPA Asthma statistics

The EPA has Asthma Statistics published on their site. Scroll down to the area that says "Asthma Fact Sheet". There you will find the latest report.

These figures are taken from the latest report, which is dated January 2009.

In short asthma affects millions of lives and costs us billions of dollars. It is also shown that ozone and particle pollution makes people more sensitive to asthma triggers. Isn't it time we stop dumping particle pollution into our environment!?



Asthma facts
Asthma is a rapidly growing public health problem. According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention:
About 23 million people, including 6.8 million children, have asthma.
• Asthma prevalence is higher among families with lower incomes.
*12 million people report having an asthma attack in the past year.
•Asthma accounts for nearly 17 million physician office and hospital visits,
3 and nearly 2 million emergency department visits each year. 2
African Americans continue to have higher rates of asthma emergency department visits,
hospitalizations, and deaths than do Caucasians:
The rate of emergency department visits is 350% higher.
* The hospitalization rate is 240% higher.
* The asthma death rate is 200% higher.
* Approximately 2 million Hispanics in the U.S. have asthma and Puerto Ricans are
disproportionately impacted:
The rate of asthma among Puerto Ricans is 125% higher than non-Hispanic white
people and 80% higher than non-Hispanic black people. 2
The prevalence of asthma attacks is highest among Puerto Ricans.
• Asthma in Children:
Asthma is one of the most common serious chronic diseases of childhood.
• Asthma is the third-ranking cause of hospitalization among children under 15.
• Asthma in children is the cause of seven million physician visits and nearly 200,000
hospitalizations.
An average of one out of every 10 school-aged child has asthma.
• 13 million school days are missed each year due to asthma.
• The Cost of Asthma:
Annual expenditures for health and lost productivity due to asthma are estimated at nearly
$20 billion, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

Ozone and particle pollution can cause asthma attacks.
When ozone levels are high, more people with asthma have attacks that require a
doctor’s attention.

Ozone makes people more sensitive to asthma triggers such as pet dander, pollen,
dust mites, and mold.