Biological weed control to relieve millions from Ambrosia allergies in Europe

Urs Schaffner, Sandro Steinbach, Yan Sun, Carsten A. Skjøth, Letty A. Weger, Suzanne T. Lommen, Benno A. Augustinus, Maira Bonini, Gerhard Karrer, Branko Šikoparija, Michel Thibaudon and Heinz Müller-Schärer ()
Additional contact information
Urs Schaffner: CABI
Yan Sun: University of Fribourg
Carsten A. Skjøth: University of Worcester
Letty A. Weger: Leiden University Medical Center
Suzanne T. Lommen: University of Fribourg
Benno A. Augustinus: CABI
Maira Bonini: Agency for Health Protection of Metropolitan Area of Milan (ATS)
Gerhard Karrer: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
Branko Šikoparija: University of Novi Sad
Michel Thibaudon: French Network of Aerobiological Monitoring RNSA
Heinz Müller-Schärer: University of Fribourg

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Invasive alien species (IAS) can substantially affect ecosystem services and human well-being. However, quantitative assessments of their impact on human health are rare and the benefits of implementing IAS management likely to be underestimated. Here we report the effects of the allergenic plant Ambrosia artemisiifolia on public health in Europe and the potential impact of the accidentally introduced leaf beetle Ophraella communa on the number of patients and healthcare costs. We find that, prior to the establishment of O. communa, some 13.5 million persons suffered from Ambrosia-induced allergies in Europe, causing costs of Euro 7.4 billion annually. Our projections reveal that biological control of A. artemisiifolia will reduce the number of patients by approximately 2.3 million and the health costs by Euro 1.1 billion per year. Our conservative calculations indicate that the currently discussed economic costs of IAS underestimate the real costs and thus also the benefits from biological control.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15586-1

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