The challenges of pollen measurement
Pollen allergies in numbers
Year after year, the proportion of the population affected by pollen allergies is increasing exponentially. This disease, which affected only 7% of the population in 1970, will affect half of the population by 2050.
0
%
In 1970
0
%
In 2020
0
%
In 2050
The increase in the prevalence of pollen allergies inevitably leads to an increase in the costs associated with the disease, both direct and indirect.
961€
This is the average annual allergy-related cost for a person living in the European Union
7M
In France, each year, pollen allergies result in 7 million days off work
Pollution, climate change and pollen allergies
Air pollution, greenhouse gases and global warming are the main causes of the increase in pollen allergy. They cause changes in the flowering of plants and in the structure of pollen grains.
Climate change and pollution are leading in particular to...
The migration of certain species
Stronger plant growth with increasing CO2
Multiple blooms
A change in the structure of pollen grains
Increased release of allergenic proteins from pollen grains
Pollen information, the cornerstone of pollen allergy management
People with pollen allergies have two weapons for managing their disease: limiting their exposure to allergens and tailoring their treatments to that level of exposure. To meet both of these needs, they need to know when, how much and what type of pollen they are exposed to - or at risk of being exposed to.
Timing of pollen information
As with other diseases, the onset of an allergic attack occurs after an initial asymptomatic phase. The symptoms of this crisis: rhinitis, cough, fatigue..., can be limited or even avoided if people suffering from allergies take their treatment in the first moments after their exposure to pollens. To enable this reactivity, real-time information on the pollens present in the air is essential.
Accuracy of pollen information
Not all people with pollen allergies are allergic to the same plants. In order for pollen information to be useful, it must be able to assess the risk, at a given location, for each type and quantity of pollen present. Weather, geography, urbanization, all play a role in the level of exposure to pollen; hyper-local information becomes a clear choice.
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