Nature Communications (Apr 2020)

Biological weed control to relieve millions from Ambrosia allergies in Europe

  • Urs Schaffner,
  • Sandro Steinbach,
  • Yan Sun,
  • Carsten A. Skjøth,
  • Letty A. de Weger,
  • Suzanne T. Lommen,
  • Benno A. Augustinus,
  • Maira Bonini,
  • Gerhard Karrer,
  • Branko Šikoparija,
  • Michel Thibaudon,
  • Heinz Müller-Schärer

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15586-1
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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Invasive plants can adversely affect ecosystems and economic costs. Here, the authors quantify the impact of the invasive plant Ambrosia artemisiifolia on seasonal allergies and health costs across Europe, finding that the costs are considerably higher than what previously reported, and estimate also the reduction in the number of patients and health costs that may be obtained with biological control