A large swathe of Southern France, from the Pyrénées-Orientales in the west to the Alpes-Maritimes in the east, has been placed under a red alert for high pollen levels.  

Trees of the Cupressaceae family, such as cypress and juniper, are the main culprits locally in the French Riviera, but the Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique (RNSA), which monitors national pollen levels across France, has also noted elevated levels of ash and alder pollen in the Alpes-Maritimes. In the neigbouring Var, the warnings also cover pollen from hazel trees and the nettle family.  

The red alert for pollen emanating from Cupressaceae species has already been in force in the region for two weeks and the situation is likely to continue to grow in intensity, says the RNSA, with mimosa trees also expected to reach full bloom in the coming weeks.  

The RNSA runs an interactive map service on its website, as well as a mobile phone app, that notifies the public of changing pollen warnings. Check it out for yourself by clicking here.

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Photo source: Alex Jones, Unsplash