The winter truce is over for France’s allergy season. The pollen from poplar, ash, birch, hornbeam and plane trees is already starting to churn through sinuses as the weather warms up.
France’s national air quality watchdog the Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique RNSA) released its first warnings of the year on February 15due to the high levels of Cypress and Alder pollen in the air from the Mediterranean to the Channel coast.
That warning, which marks the start of allergy season, will be the first of many, with the last major pollen outbreak of the year usually coming in August.
Month by month allergy calendar
Pic: Visactu / The Connexion
Allergy symptoms
People unfamiliar with French plant life should by particularly attentive to any allergy-like symptoms, including:
Runny nose
Coughing
Red and watery eyes
Breathing difficulties (in severe cases)
Asthma attacks (in severe cases)
The RNSA recommends that people take antihistamine-based treatments, and take steps around the home to reduce their risk. Sensitive individuals are also advised to
Wash clothes regularly
Rinse hair in the evening
Air rooms early in the morning and late in the evening when temperatures are lower and less pollen is in the air
Dry clothes indoors
Avoid outdoor sports
Keep car windows closed
Check pollen levels going outdoors, on the RNSA website, here.
