New map: France on red alert for pollen allergies

The grass pollen count is high throughout France with many departments in the east and southwest on red alert.

Joanna York Joanna York

Published Friday 22 May 2020 - 10:54 Modified Friday 22 May 2020 - 10:54

An updated map, from national air monitoring network Le Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique (RNSA) on its website pollens.fr, shows pollens, and allergies, are high throughout France.

A total of 43 departments - mostly in the southwest and east of France - have a “very high” pollen count, and are marked in red. All the rest of France’s departments are either marked “high” in orange, or “average” in yellow.

Grass pollens

In most areas, “graminées” or grass pollens are particularly high.

The RNSA said: "Grass pollens are here. No region in France will be spared and the associated allergic risk will be high to very high throughout the country."

They add that: “Due to Covid-19, many sites that measure pollen and mould have stopped in France. This map is an estimation based on data from sites that are still functioning, seasonal observations, responses from our medical observers, weather forecasts, and our expertise.”

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