Olive pollen
Confined to the Mediterranean, where it is the dominant spring allergen — in parts of Andalusia, Greece and southern Italy it matters more than birch does in the north. Counts run high: a spring day in an olive-growing region can reach four figures without being remarkable.
When it is in the air
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Where it dominates
Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Cyprus and southern Turkey. Effectively absent north of the Alps.
What the levels mean
| None | < 15 |
| Low | 15 – 99 |
| Moderate | 100 – 399 |
| High | 400 – 1499 |
| Very high | ≥ 1500 |
Concentrations in grains per cubic metre of air. These bands come from published clinical evidence but have not yet been checked against measurements for this species.