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Alien Species and Human Health: Austrian Stakeholder Perspective on Challenges and Solutions

Author

Listed:
  • Stefan Schindler

    (Environment Agency Austria, Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090 Vienna, Austria
    Division of Conservation Biology, Vegetation and Landscape Ecology, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, 1030 Vienna, Austria)

  • Wolfgang Rabitsch

    (Environment Agency Austria, Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Franz Essl

    (Environment Agency Austria, Spittelauer Lände 5, 1090 Vienna, Austria
    Division of Conservation Biology, Vegetation and Landscape Ecology, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, 1030 Vienna, Austria)

  • Peter Wallner

    (Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Kathrin Lemmerer

    (Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Swen Follak

    (Institute for Sustainable Plant Production, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Spargelfeldstraße 191, 1220 Vienna, Austria)

  • Hans-Peter Hutter

    (Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

No saturation in the introduction, acceleration of spread and the increasing impacts of alien species are a characteristic feature of the Anthropocene. Concomitantly, alien species affecting human health are supposed to increase, mainly due to increasing global trade and climate change. In this study, we assess challenges and solutions posed by such species to the public health sector in Austria over the next few decades. We did so using an online questionnaire circulated to 131 experts and stakeholders working on human health and biological invasions, supplemented by in-depth interviews with eleven selected experts. Results from the online survey and in-depth interviews largely support and complement each other. Experts and stakeholders suggest that (i) the allergenic Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed), the photodermatoxic Heracleum mantegazzianum (giant hogweed), and vectors of diseases such as Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito) are considered the alien species posing the most severe challenges; (ii) challenges are expected to increase in the next few decades and awareness in the public health sector is not sufficient; (iii) effective and efficient solutions are mainly related to prevention. Specific solutions include pathway management of introduction and spread by monitoring and controlling established populations of ragweed, hogweed and mosquitos.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefan Schindler & Wolfgang Rabitsch & Franz Essl & Peter Wallner & Kathrin Lemmerer & Swen Follak & Hans-Peter Hutter, 2018. "Alien Species and Human Health: Austrian Stakeholder Perspective on Challenges and Solutions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-11, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:11:p:2527-:d:182139
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andrew J. Monaghan & K. M. Sampson & D. F. Steinhoff & K. C. Ernst & K. L. Ebi & B. Jones & M. H. Hayden, 2018. "The potential impacts of 21st century climatic and population changes on human exposure to the virus vector mosquito Aedes aegypti," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 146(3), pages 487-500, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mattia Iannella & Walter De Simone & Paola D’Alessandro & Giulia Console & Maurizio Biondi, 2019. "Investigating the Current and Future Co-Occurrence of Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Ophraella communa in Europe through Ecological Modelling and Remote Sensing Data Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-16, September.

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