Watch out for ambrosia this summer! If you are sensitive to it, you risk sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose and difficulty breathing, warns the National Aerobiological Surveillance Network. Because of the high temperatures of recent weeks, this associative network estimates that allergies due to ragweed pollen will begin from August 9 in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, a good week ahead of previous summers. .
“We already had the first grains of pollen at the end of July, so it is true that it is a little more advanced linked to this heat wave”explains Samuel Monnier, of the National Aerobiological Surveillance Network.
Ambrosia is blooming in the Monts du Lyonnais as evidenced by this photo taken this morning. Ambrosia pollens are more and more present in the air and are already greatly disturbing allergy sufferers, a little ahead of last year. #pollen #allergies pic.twitter.com/82LqrsdhdD
— National Aerobiological Surveillance Network (@rnsa_pollen) August 5, 2022
The heat wave makes the ambrosia stronger and more resistant. “Climate change and rising temperatures really favor the growth of plants that emit more pollen into the air. On our sensors, we have an increase in the amount of pollen over the past 30 years”confirms Samuel Monnier. “We thought that in some places she would diehe quips. Unfortunately, it resists the heat wave very well, it grows very well and it begins to flower.”
So beware of ragweed pollen, which is very allergenic: one in three adults and one in five children are allergic to it. Side symptoms: “These are rhinitis, so the runny nose, conjunctiva, itchy eyes, which are red, which are watery. We have cough, difficulty breathing, asthma attacks for the most cases serious”enumerates Samuel Monier. Until then confined to the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region, particularly in the Rhône valley, this invasive plant has been spreading for several summers.
“It is unfortunately gaining ground in other regions, such as Burgundy, Franche-Comté, New Aquitaine. It can also be found in Occitania and it is also present in the north of the PACA region.”
Samuel Monnierat franceinfo
Some areas, on the other hand, are little affected by this plant: “It is found much less in the North, in the Great West and in Brittany, but also around the Mediterranean: in the South and South-East, it is not very present”developed Samuel Monier. The peak of pollen and therefore of allergy is expected within about twenty days.
The Aerobiological Surveillance Network recommends pulling up ragweed and its roots when you find it, or reporting its presence to your town hall via the site signalement-ambroisie.fr or the dedicated telephone number 0 972 376 888 (price of a local call).
Acting against the spread of ragweed is a major public health issue that requires everyone’s involvement! It’s still a good time to report ambrosia before the seedling of the plant to limit its expansion: https://t.co/UcqwvhDRSU pic.twitter.com/RPEspYir35
— National Aerobiological Surveillance Network (@rnsa_pollen) August 5, 2022