Human Health and Neophytes
You may have heard about invasive neophytes before, species of plants that are not native to an area, lack natural enemies and spread very quickly. In consequence, they threaten local flora and fauna. But invasive neophytes do not only pose a danger to our environment, they can also threaten human health.
How neophytes can prove a threat is best demonstrated with the case of a 27-year-old UK woman who, while walking her dog, came into repeated contact with Giant Hogweed. Developing dermal burns over 1% of her body, she required hospital intervention and six weeks of recuperation before she recovered, but not without receiving significant scarring along the affected areas [1].
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It is, therefore, no wonder that dangerous neophytes like Giant Hogweed
receive intermittent media attention, warning people of their
dangers. But how likely are the people of Zurich to be at risk from dangerous plants
like these?
In this blog, we will investigate the threats present in our parks and
gardens. There is no shortage of invasive species in Switzerland but the two most
dangerous in Zurich are Common Ragweed and Giant Hogweed. We will examine how they have spread across
Zurich over time, explore how effectively control measures limit their
dispersal, and ask how much of an actual health risk these neophytes currently
pose to people. By analysing spatial and temporal data, alongside known ecological and
medical risks, we assess both the distribution dynamics of these neophytes and
their relevance for public health in Zurich.