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Biological weed control to relieve millions from Ambrosia allergies in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Urs Schaffner

    (CABI)

  • Sandro Steinbach

    (University of Connecticut
    Technology and Economics, ETH Zurich)

  • Yan Sun

    (University of Fribourg)

  • Carsten A. Skjøth

    (University of Worcester)

  • Letty A. Weger

    (Leiden University Medical Center)

  • Suzanne T. Lommen

    (University of Fribourg
    Institute of Biology, Leiden University)

  • Benno A. Augustinus

    (CABI
    University of Fribourg)

  • 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)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • 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 & Heinz, 2020. "Biological weed control to relieve millions from Ambrosia allergies in Europe," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-15586-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15586-1
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    Cited by:

    1. Augustinus, Benno A. & Blum, Moshe & Citterio, Sandra & Gentili, Rodolfo & Helman, David & Nestel, David & Schaffner, Urs & Müller-Schärer, Heinz & Lensky, Itamar M., 2022. "Ground-truthing predictions of a demographic model driven by land surface temperatures with a weed biocontrol cage experiment," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 466(C).
    2. Ismael Soto & Ross N Cuthbert & Antonín Kouba & César Capinha & Anna Turbelin & Emma J Hudgins & Christophe Diagne & Franck Courchamp & Phillip J Haubrock, 2022. "Global economic costs of herpetofauna invasions," Post-Print hal-03860530, HAL.
    3. Melina Kourantidou & Laura N H Verbrugge & Phillip J Haubrock & Ross N Cuthbert & Elena Angulo & Inkeri Ahonen & Michelle Cleary & Jannike Falk-Andersson & Lena Granhag & Sindri Gíslason & Brooks Kais, 2022. "The economic costs, management and regulation of biological invasions in the Nordic countries," Post-Print hal-03860518, HAL.
    4. Paul Battlay & Jonathan Wilson & Vanessa C. Bieker & Christopher Lee & Diana Prapas & Bent Petersen & Sam Craig & Lotte Boheemen & Romain Scalone & Nissanka P. Silva & Amit Sharma & Bojan Konstantinov, 2023. "Large haploblocks underlie rapid adaptation in the invasive weed Ambrosia artemisiifolia," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.

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