Pollen count of Ambrosia quadruples in Germany

Ambrosia is one of the strongest allergenic plants in the world. The highly allergenic plant continues to spread in Europe. Researchers have redrawn the dissemination in a scientific paper to make a prognosis.

Ambrosia pollen prolongs the time of suffering for allergy sufferers. (Image: ferkelraggae / fotolia.com)

The spread of the ragweed plant in Europe will increase dramatically in the coming decades, according to French researchers, which would have extremely unpleasant consequences for allergy sufferers. The research team led by Lynda Hamaouli-Laguel from the Climate and Environmental Sciences Laboratory in Gif sur Yvette, France, concludes in the journal "Nature Climate Change" that ragweed pollen concentrations will be four times higher by 2050 than they are today.

In a computer simulation, the French researchers calculated the spread of the Ambrosia plant (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) in Europe, with climate change and the introduction along human transport routes being identified as major factors in the increased prevalence. Depending on the scenario, the researchers predict a minimal doubling and a maximum increase to twelve times the pollen concentration over the next 35 years.

Distribution of the seeds by humans
At the moment, Western Hungary, northern Italy and south-eastern France are the most heavily polluted, but in the future Germany and other northern states will also face increased ragweed pollen concentrations. In Germany, "the concentration will increase sharply and become as high as today in southern France", cited the "dpa" the French research team. The main factor here is the transport and distribution of seeds by humans, but climate change will also boost the growing pollen load.

Strong hay fever symptoms from Ambrosia pollen
According to the German Allergy and Asthma Association (DAAB), Ambrosia artemisiifolia - also called mugwort ragweed or ragweed - originally came from North America, from where the plant was introduced to Europe. It blooms "from July to October with finger-shaped, green-yellow inflorescences, which can produce up to a billion pollen per plant." In pollen allergy sufferers can cause severe hay fever symptoms up to allergic bronchial asthma, reports the DAAB. In addition, allergic skin reactions in contact with the plant are possible. The spread of mugwort ragweed is significantly promoted by human activities, whereby the introduction takes place in different ways. For example, a major hazard is contaminated feed and seeds. In this way, the plant could quickly settle unnoticed in private gardens and from there by spreading the seeds to more open spaces. At the edges of roads, paths, railway lines and on brownfields, an increased spread takes place.

Early warning system and mandatory reporting required
To better monitor the spread of the ragweed plant experts have been calling for some time for the establishment of an early warning system, the news agency "dpa". Emerging stocks should be subject to reporting and state measures for containment - as in Switzerland - are taken. The massive spread of the plant is in this country otherwise little contrary, because no natural enemies or adapted diseases decimate the stock, reports the "dpa", citing a study by scientists of the Frankfurt Biodiversity and Climate Research Center in 2014. This came to the conclusion that the seeds in Germany have a significantly higher germination rate than in their country of origin. (Sb)

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