Several departments in the southeast of France are on ‘high risk’ alert (the maximum level that is possible) for pollen allergies, with people in the area urged to be alert and take preventative measures.
Since the start of February, the national air monitoring network le Réseau national de surveillance aérobiologique (RSA) has classified several departments in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region as ‘high risk’.
The pollen particularly highlighted as presenting a high risk are:
Cypress, thuja, and juniper (Cupressacées-Taxacées: cyprès, thuyas, genévriers).
(Other pollen, including mimosa, alder and hazel, are at medium risk; see the full list on the RSA website here.)
The high-risk warning applies to:
Pyrénées-Orientales
Aude
Hérault
Gard
Vaucluse
Bouches-du-Rhône
Var
Alpes-Maritimes
As of February 13, All of France is on ‘medium’ alert (yellow), except for the Mediterranean area, which is on ‘high’ alert (red), the RSA statesPollens.fr
On February 12, the RSA posted an updated warning on its Facebook page, specifying that its monitoring had noted the heightened presence of:
Betulaceae pollens (alder and hazel), particularly in Rhône
Cupressaceae (cypress, cedar, and juniper) pollen; very abundant in the Mediterranean, with a high risk of allergy
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It warned of symptoms including a runny nose and itchy eyes, and advised people to:
Take extra care and limit exposure to pollens
Follow any treatment plan or medication to the letter
Consult a health professional if symptoms persist
Visit the website www.pollens.fr for more information if needed
Rainy episodes may ease symptoms temporarily, the RSA said, because they “push pollen to the ground”. In contrast, it warned people to “watch out for sunnier, milder and windier days, which will encourage pollen to disperse into the air”.
The network also advises:
Avoid spending too long in a park or green areas in broad daylight, especially during the height of the day
Open windows early in the morning and late at night to air out the room, but close them during the day to prevent pollen from coming indoors
Avoid drying clothes outside
Wear a mask and sunglasses if it helps
Wash or rinse your hair at night to prevent pollen sticking to it and irritating you as you sleep
Avoid aggravating your symptoms with other irritants, such as tobacco, cleaning or DIY products, interior perfumes or scents, incense, or candles, etc.
