Possible Allergic Reactions: Increased Concentration of Ragweed Pollen in the Air

The Ministry of Spatial Planning, Environmental Protection and Construction of Sarajevo Canton on Thursday sent a request to the Cantonal Administration for Inspection Affairs for urgent intensification of control of entities obliged to implement activities prescribed by the Decision on measures to prevent the spread and destruction of the weed plant species – ragweed.

The reasons for sending this urgent request are found in the weekly report submitted to this ministry by the Center for Ecology and Natural Resources of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in Sarajevo, in accordance with the Agreement on conducting pollen monitoring in Sarajevo Canton, where an increased concentration of pollen of certain plant species was noted and an early alarm was declared for the highly allergenic weed plant ragweed.

The measured values of ragweed pollen concentration for the period from August 30 to September 6, 2015, amounted to 28 grains per m3 of air at the Pofalići pollen station and 70 grains per m3 of air at the Stari Grad pollen station, which can cause serious allergic reactions.

It is estimated that this is a problem that will persist, given that ragweed flowering continues and lasts until November, which is why it is important to immediately take all measures listed in the Decision on measures to prevent the spread and destruction of the weed plant species – ragweed.

Along with the request for action, this ministry also submitted to the inspection body a list of locations where ragweed habitats have been identified, created within the project "Development of a digital cadastre of ragweed habitats in Sarajevo Canton," which was financially supported by the relevant ministry and developed by the public company "Bosanskohercegovačke šume," where it can be seen that the most affected municipalities are Ilijaš and Hadžići.

It was requested that inspection supervision be directed towards owners, i.e., users of registered agricultural and ruderal areas - along roads, highways, railway lines, on the banks of streams and rivers, in abandoned gardens, uncultivated places, construction sites, etc., and order urgent measures for mechanical destruction of this highly allergenic plant species. In case of non-compliance, financial sanctions are also foreseen.

In their request, they also expressed expectations that the cantonal inspection should establish contacts with the competent municipal inspections with the aim of their urgent action.