affected regions, actions to adopt… What you need to know about the red alert

2023-04-11 11:41:22

After the spring weather of the Easter weekend, the pollen has made a comeback. The national aerobiological surveillance network (RNSA) warns of the increased risk when more than one in three people in France are affected by pollen allergy.

►Which regions are the most exposed?

About sixty departments are affected by the progression of pollen. This has spread over a large part of the East and North, with departments classified as red (“high risk”) by the national aerobiological monitoring network. The West and the South are assessed as “medium risk”.

In the South-East, only part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region is a little less affected. And you have to go overseas to find a territory with a “zero” risk of allergy.

Episodes of air pollution are likely to reinforce the symptoms of allergy sufferers. On the other hand, the rain which will arrive during the second week of April should offer “moments of respite”announces the RNSA.

►What species are concerned?

It is birch pollen that dominates at the start of spring, on red alert throughout the north of France. The birch can be recognized by its white, thin trunk and is generally located in the forest.

Hornbeam pollen (from the same family as birches) and ash pollen are also widespread. In the South, cypress, plane tree and oak pollens are abundant, all at “medium” risk, together generating a high allergy risk cocktail.

The start of the tree pollen season had started on March 26 and is expected to end at the end of April. These are the grass pollens, causing the “hay fever”, which continues from May to September.

►The actions to adopt

Colds, headaches, fatigue… To limit the unpleasant symptoms of pollen allergy, the national aerobiological monitoring network recommends airing the interiors for ten minutes at night, and rinsing your hair every evening.

It is recommended to avoid drying clothes outside and to limit activities such as mowing grass and sports.

People with allergies can receive alerts from the application of the national aerobiological monitoring network or that of the Association des Pollinariums sentinelles de France on their telephone.

In 2022, the amount of pollen measured had been higher than the last 15 years. An increase due to climate change, which, with higher temperatures, promotes the spread of pollen.