Pollen: half of France on red alert with the return of sunny days

In the middle of the birches and ash trees of the Citadel of Lille (North), the daily walk of Philippe and Nathalie is disturbed by pollen. Like one in three French people, Philippe is allergic to pollen. “The nose is a bit like a cold, but it’s mostly the throat” which poses a problem, explains Philippe. The return of fine weather promotes the dispersion of pollen in the air. Since last week, half of France has been on red alert.

Recommendations to protect yourself

In a medical practice in Île-de-France, calls related to these allergies are on the rise. To protect yourself, the regional health agency recommends various recommendations. Dr Pascal Chaussard, from SOS Médecins Paris 14e, explains that you have to wash your hair, avoid drying your clothes in the open air, or ventilate your home rather early in the morning or in the evening. Pollen concentration is increasing due to global warming. In the future, it could lead to longer and more intense pollen seasons.