Mainland Portugal with very high levels of pollen in the atmosphere

Atmospheric pollen levels will be high to very high in mainland Portugal until at least next Thursday, according to the latest pollen bulletin from the Portuguese Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SPAIC).

The pollen present in the air in mainland regions comes mainly from olive trees, cork oak and oak, as well as from herbs parietaria, nettle, cereals, plantain and sorrel.

Forecasts until May 18 show that the Algarve, Alentejo, Lisbon and Setúbal regions will be dominated by chenopodium pollination.

According to SPAIC, during May there will be a very high concentration of atmospheric pollen from olive trees on the Portuguese mainland.

The peak of pollen of this species has already begun (in the south-central regions) and will last until the end of the month (in the central-northern regions).

In the autonomous region of Madeira, pollen is predominantly from cypresses and eucalyptus trees, while in the Azores pines and nettles stand out.

In both archipelagos, pollination of parietal grasses, cereals and plantain also occurs.

According to SPAIC, outdoor activities with high pollen concentrations should be avoided.

SPAIC also recommends that you keep your car windows closed when you travel to reduce your exposure to pollen. Motorcyclists must wear full face helmets.

At home, society also advises keeping windows closed when pollen concentrations are high.

SPAIC also believes that drug treatment will be the most effective way to manage allergy symptoms, advises seeing a specialist immunoallergist for the correct diagnosis and prescribing the most appropriate medication, and warns that prevention “may involve allergy vaccines.”

Each week, the Pollen Bulletin publishes data on pollen levels in the atmosphere, collected by reader posts in various regions of the country.