Abundant runny nose, repeated sneezing, itchy nose and throat, headaches… pollen allergy season settled in the south-east of France.
“At the moment, the risk is high in the Var for wall pollenhighly allergenic, from the urticaceae family”says Samuel Monnier, engineer in charge of communication at the National Aerobiological Surveillance Network (RNSA).
“Flowering is soon over but other species are gaining momentum, mainly the grassesthese herbaceous plants found along the roads in particular and to which many people are allergic.
In high alert until the end of June
The risk is already high in the Var while the Alpes-Maritimes, in medium risk, will move to the next stage from mid-May, or even before, according to Samuel Monnier.
“The oaks are still flowering but the allergenic potential is moderate, the plane trees are almost finished. It’s the grasses that will really cause problems. The risk will be high for several weeksit’s a long flowering period, until the end of June.”
And if you thought you’d be released in the summer, you’ll have to lower your expectations. Grass pollens are still present, although less strong, in July and August, before ambrosia take over in August and September then the cypress in november.
Ambrosia, a highly allergenic plant, is found mainly in the Vaucluse and the Bouches-du-Rhône, but the wind can carry the pollen as far as the Var.
Almost no place spared in France
“For grasses, all of France will be in red in May and June, there is almost no department spared, apart from Brittany, near Brest”, says the RNSA engineer.
The south-east of France is particularly terrible for allergy sufferers, between grasses, ragweed, cypresses and olive trees. Birch pollen, in bloom in April, concerns more the north of the country.
The only hope of getting out of it without losing your nose? There rain. “As soon as it rains, the pollens are flattened on the ground, which constitutes a temporary respite. We just have to pray for a rainy spring, as much for the soil as for the allergic people!”