Asthma-related pediatric emergency room visits are on the rise in Kansas City, the Kansas City Star reports.

Data collected by Archer’s agency showed asthma-related pediatric emergency room visits trending up from 2006 to 2015, with children of color disproportionately affected.

From 2006 to 2009, Kansas City kids never had more than 1,653 emergency room visits due to asthma. In 2010 that number spiked to 1,988 and has stayed at 1,871 or above ever since. From 2012 through 2015, it was above 2,000 visits every year but one.

The health department doesn’t yet know why, but it has some theories:

Climate change is creating more ozone alert days and longer allergy seasons, both of which may be triggers for asthma attacks.

The push to make homes more airtight for energy efficiency may be trapping indoors increased concentrations of asthma attack triggers like dust, mold, pet dander and second-hand smoke.

Get the full story at www.kansascity.com