Through Yann Guénégou
Published on
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Since 1996, a sensor, installed on the roof of the building of pole 1 of the hospital of La Cavale-Blanche in Brest, sucks up pollens from the air 30 km around. Readings are taken every week by the Capt’air Bretagne association, which analyzes them, transmits them to the National Aerobiological Surveillance Network (RNSA), and publishes a weekly pollen bulletin (on its website, which can be received by email by registering or consulting via a smartphone application). One of the association’s missions is, in fact, to inform the population about the risks of allergies to pollen, and to ensure its dissemination.
Vital information for people with allergies. “The data allows us to anticipate the situation for the following week. Patients, for their part, can adapt their treatment and preventive measures in order to reduce exposure to these pollens, ”explains Sophie Frain, nurse in the association. Like rinsing your hair or brushing it before going to bed to prevent pollens from settling on the pillow, avoid airing your accommodation between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
20 to 30% of the population would be sensitive to pollen in Brittany, as in France elsewhere. “Without doubt more, because many do not know how to be allergic. This percentage could climb to 50%, or one in two people, in 2050, warns Sophie Frain. The stakes are therefore high. “
Public health
According to the nurse, it would be essential for patients to know which pollen they are reacting to. “Too often, they are satisfied with a visit to the pharmacy when it would be necessary to analyze this with his doctor. ”
Because Capt’air knows which pollens are present in the air and at what times.
“In Brittany, those of birch are major. Those of oak too. And chestnut, which are not very allergenic but since the region has many of these trees, people who suffer are affected. “
Currently, tree pollens have passed. “Right now, it’s the season for grasses, like poaceae. “
For the past four years, Capt’air, volunteer agents from the Brest Métropole green spaces department, have been carrying out phenological monitoring (observation of flowering) at home, which provides other information, as close as possible to the field. “It also allows us to anticipate prevention. “
Sophie Frain concludes: “Atmospheric pollution also contributes to worsening the situation for patients, because it first affects the respiratory tree which it weakens by thus promoting the passage of allergens through the bronchial wall. And this pollution will also attack the pollen grains which, when stressed, will tear and release more allergenic proteins… ”
We are here in a public health issue. This involves better biodiversity in the city (“mixing species to reduce the effects of more allergenic trees.”) In order, in particular, to “cool the islands of heat” and lead to an improvement in air quality.
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