The Sant Jordi festival once again transforms Barcelona and other cities and towns in Catalonia into a sea of books and roses from early morning, with crowds in its streets on a very emblematic day despite falling on a weekday. This year, along with flowers and reading, the protagonists in cities like Barcelona are the wind and pollen, especially that of the plane tree which flies over many streets and causes eye and throat irritation to many citizens.
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Many people have been affected by this phenomenon, which has caused eye redness, coughing, sneezing, and discomfort. When the wind picks up, books and the air are filled from early morning with a shower of this annoying plane tree pollen, a tree that predominates in cities like Barcelona.
As indicated by the UAB’s Aerobiological Information Point, a project funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya that indicates the levels of pollen and allergenic spores during the week of April 20-26, Barcelona, Bellaterra, Girona, and Manresa are at level 4 (very high)
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of allergens from plane trees, oaks, and holm oaks, while in Lleida the level is high (3). Furthermore, except in the Val d’Aran, allergens from parietaria are also at level 4.
The Catalan writer Carlota Gurt celebrated the good day and the large number of people in the streets for Sant Jordi, but lamented that plane trees release so many allergens: “We all have a lot of itchy eyes and throat,” she said.
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