Halbig Paula, Delb Horst, Schopf Axel
Department of Forest Protection, Forest Research Institute Baden-Wuerttemberg, Wonnhaldestr. 4, 79100 Freiburg, Germany.
Institute of Forest Entomology, Forest Pathology and Forest Protection, Department of Ecosystem Management, Climate and Biodiversity, BOKU University, Peter-Jordan-Str. 82/I, 1190 Vienna, Austria.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025 Aug 29;22(9):1361. doi: 10.3390/ijerph22091361.
Potential climatic and land-use changes may favor an increase in the population densities and range expansion of oak processionary moth (OPM) in Central and Western Europe in the future. This could lead to more significant threats to human and animal health, caused by the urticating setae released by OPM larvae, and more severe oak defoliation by the larvae. To cope with the public health issue, a basis for OPM hazard assessment and management was created by quantifying the setae formation potential of OPM. While a single larva forms ca. 857,000 setae during its lifespan, a single infested oak tree may be contaminated with up to 10-24 billion (10) setae during an OPM outbreak. Moreover, the possible setae contamination threat to humans through airborne setae dispersal was studied in worst-case exposure simulations in the field. The highest airborne setae concentration was straight downwind, but turbulences up to 150° from the air flow were observed. The findings of this study will improve biohazard quantification as a basis for decision-making on preventive or mechanical control measures and enable an effective protection of human health. This study provides applicable information to derive warnings and recommendations for the public, as well as land managers and authorities.
未来，潜在的气候和土地利用变化可能会促使中欧和西欧的橡树 processionary 蛾（OPM）种群密度增加和分布范围扩大。这可能会对人类和动物健康造成更严重的威胁，这些威胁由 OPM 幼虫释放的具有刺激性的刚毛引起，同时幼虫对橡树的落叶危害也会更严重。为应对公共卫生问题，通过量化 OPM 的刚毛形成潜力，建立了 OPM 危害评估和管理的基础。虽然单个幼虫在其生命周期内会形成约 85.7 万根刚毛，但在 OPM 爆发期间，一棵受感染的橡树可能会被多达 100 亿至 240 亿根刚毛污染。此外，在野外的最坏情况暴露模拟中，研究了通过空气传播的刚毛对人类可能造成的刚毛污染威胁。空气中刚毛浓度最高的地方是直接顺风方向，但在与气流成 150°的范围内也观察到了湍流。本研究的结果将改进生物危害量化，为预防或机械控制措施的决策提供依据，并有效保护人类健康。本研究提供了适用信息，以便为公众以及土地管理者和当局得出警告和建议。
