Atlanta Tops Allergy Capitals List

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recently released its annual Spring Allergy Capitals list as part of its ongoing Allergy Action Plan public awareness campaign to help individuals recognize, prevent, and treat their allergies. The rankings are based on a city's pollen count, length of season for the most offensive pollen types, number of prescription and OTC medications used per capita during spring 2003, and number of boardcertified allergists and immunologists per capita in the metropolitan area. The Spring Allergy Capital list is available at www.allergyactionplan.com. The top 10 spring allergy capitals are:

• Atlanta, Ga
• Augusta, Ga?Aiken, SC
• Louisville, Ky
• Charlotte?Gastonia, NC?Rock Hill, SC
• St. Louis, Mo
• Austin?San Marcos, Tex
• Springfield, Mass
• Little Rock?North Little Rock, Ark
• Knoxville, Tenn
• Allentown?Bethlehem?Easton, Pa