Pollen Counts

Practicalities Thinking it Through Weather and Seasonal Issues Pollen Counts 

If you have a child who suffers particularly badly from hay fever you will probably have to take into consideration pollen levels at any proposed destination. You may also note that on a first visit a child may have no problem with a type of pollen never met before. However, by the time of a second visit an allergy may have developed and the hay fever returns.

Clarity Line
tel: 0800 556610

Operates mid May to end July and offers details of pollen counts in the UK.

The European Pollen Information Service
Pollen Research Unit, University of North London, 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7 8DB

Based at the University of North London is a research and academic network, working mainly with hospitals and universities. It can advise about pollen seasons across Europe and most of the rest of the world, can provide information on current pollen concentrations, and will forecast trends in 25 countries. For each enquiry send a cheque payable to University of North London. Charges are £5 per country to cover costs.

Broadly you can expect the following patterns:

UK	From the beginning of April to end October, starting around two weeks later in the north than the south, and a little earlier in the west than the east.
France	West Coast sees the lowest pollen count with a little mid-May to mid-July. South Coast Some pollen year round but highest March to July. Central Paris particularly bad in spring with tree pollen. July onwards recommended.
Italy	Tree pollen February to March and grass April to June.
Spain & Portugal	Central and South considered bad February to May and worse May to June. Algarve very little pollen year round.
Greece	High mid April to mid June.
Scandinavia	Very high tree pollen count in May plus grasses May and June.
Egypt	Mid-February to end December particularly bad March to July.
The Caribbean	Peak counts November to January, low August to October.

Tropical islands generally have low pollen counts year round but anywhere with a monsoon will be particularly bad just after the rains so either before (when it can be very hot) or during (when prices are lower and there will probably be plenty of rain-free time) may be better.