Allergies are back... in the middle of winter.
Since Monday January 9, the national aerobiological surveillance network (RNSA) has placed Alsace and Lorraine on red alert for pollen allergies.
Six departments of the Grand Est are concerned: Haut-Rhin, Bas-Rhin, Meuse, Moselle, Meurthe-et-Moselle and Vosges.
The association indicates that this alert is due to the very mild start of the year 2023, which “
promoted the flowering of trees with in particular the first hazel pollen which is already there
”.
The hazel tree only needs 5°C to flower and release its allergenic pollen.
Read alsoWhy are there more and more pollen allergies?
Elsewhere in France, the risk of allergy will be “
medium level
” around the Mediterranean for pollens “
of Cupressaceae-Taxaceae and ash trees which are increasing and are very allergenic
”.
But the concentrations of pollen in the air will drop under the rain showers which will be more numerous from Sunday January 15.