Europe’s extreme pollen triggered symptoms in those not known to have allergies, data shows

More people reporting problems as climate crisis means plants and trees flower earlier, extending the pollen season

Pollen levels were so extreme in parts of Europe during spring that even people not known to suffer allergies felt the effects of hay fever, data has shown.

The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (Cams) observed a seasonal rise in grass and olive pollen release and transport across southern Europe and extreme levels" of birch pollen in north-eastern regions, it said on Thursday.