Ragweed pollen increases in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croat

Health authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia have issued warnings regarding high concentrations of ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) pollen. In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, peak concentrations are expected during late August and throughout September, with the highest levels typically recorded at dawn and in the afternoon.

Medical experts note that the plant is highly allergenic, causing symptoms such as nasal congestion, itching, sneezing, coughing, and eye irritation. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, sensitive individuals may react to concentrations as low as 20 to 30 grains per cubic meter. Recommended precautions include limiting outdoor activities during peak hours, avoiding windy days, and washing hair in the evening to remove allergens.

In Croatia, medical professionals at the Osijek University Hospital Centre have observed an increase in allergy sufferers, including a trend of adults developing new allergies in their 30s or 40s. Experts suggest that environmental factors, stress, and the ‘hygiene hypothesis’—whereby reduced exposure to microorganisms in industrialized environments affects the immune system—may contribute to this rise in adult-onset allergies.