Runny nose, conjunctivitis… All French departments are placed on yellow alert for pollen allergies in January 2023. Information and allergy risk map.
The mild temperatures of this beginning of the year 2023 favored the flowering of the trees and with this one the return of pollen allergies in France. One very early return since these allergies generally start from February with cypress pollens. The National Aerobiological Monitoring Network (RNSA) placed all French departments in yellow vigilance which corresponds to an average allergic risk in its bulletin of January 17. “Records have been set in the East” indicated Samuel Monnier of the RNSA to European 1 January 16. “In Strasbourg, we had 3,000 hazel pollen counted over a week, it’s really quite exceptional that there are so many for the beginning of January” he added.
The return of colder and wetter weather this week over the country has brought a bit of respite for those with allergies.
► The hazel trees (Betulaceae), which can release their allergenic pollen from 5 degrees, are already in full bloom. The hazel tree does not fear the cold and allergy sufferers must therefore be very careful.
► The risk of allergy will be low level for alder pollens (Betulaceae) and ash pollens which are less abundant than hazel pollen.
► The risk of allergy will be level average around the Mediterranean for Cupressaceae-Taxaceae and ash pollens which are increasing and are very allergenic.
► In the south-west of the country, the cocktail of Cupressaceae (cypress), ash, alder and hazel pollen will increase the risk of allergy to the average level..
Pay attention, however, to strong wind announced over a large part of the country which will promote the dispersion of pollen in the air and will aggravate symptoms such as conjunctivitis in particular. Air pollution can exacerbate allergies pollen in some major cities alerts the RNSA..