Rash, swelling, and ulcers. Contact with this plant can be very dangerous.

• Polish cities are battling invasive plant species, including the scald-causing Sosnowsky's hogweed.
• The juice from fresh plants causes skin lesions, is extremely difficult to eradicate, causes environmental degradation and limits the accessibility of the area.
• Cities are trying various methods to combat this plant. For example, in Lublin, after removing the roots, the area is limed.

Polish cities are battling invasive alien species. Lublin, where they are appearing, warns and reminds that species such as Sosnowsky's hogweed, Japanese knotweed, and Ailanthus glandulifera, which have "artificially" appeared in the city, threaten the balance of local nature and often negatively impact humans . Lublin warns that these plants could dominate our environment and displace native species.

To prevent this, Lublin systematically removes from its areas, among others, Sosnowsky's hogweed , which is a plant that can pose a threat to health, but also to nature.

Sosnowsky's hogweed originates from the Caucasus region, from where it spread across vast areas of Central and Eastern Europe, where it became an invasive plant. From the 1950s to the 1970s, it was introduced into cultivation in various Eastern Bloc countries as a fodder plant. Soon, due to cultivation and harvesting difficulties, primarily due to health risks, the crops were abandoned.

The plant began to spread spontaneously at a rapid pace. The species proved to be a very troublesome newcomer, as the sap from fresh plants causes skin lesions, is extremely difficult to eradicate, causes environmental degradation, and limits land accessibility . Currently , in Poland, the plant is legally prohibited from cultivation, propagation, and sale.

This species is considered one of the largest herbaceous plants in the world, reaching up to 3-5 meters in height, with a leaf rosette up to 2 meters wide and a stem up to 12 cm thick. Sosnowsky's hogweed belongs to the umbelliferae family, resembling dill with its characteristic white flowers gathered in a large umbel and heavily furrowed stems covered with purple spots. Its distinctive trifoliate, vibrant green leaves are key to distinguishing this species.

The juice and essential oils of Sosnowsky's hogweed contain toxic substances (furanocoumarins), which, when exposed to sunlight , cause skin lesions resembling burns (rashes, redness, swelling, ulcers).

Within 24 hours, symptoms worsen, including skin redness and blisters filled with serous fluid. The inflammation lasts for about three days. After a week, the irritated areas darken, and this condition can persist for several months. Irritated areas of the skin remain sensitive to ultraviolet light for up to several years.

Symptoms experienced by people exposed to hogweed include nausea, vomiting, headaches, respiratory and eye injuries, and even anaphylactic shock. The toxic compounds may also contribute to the development of skin cancer.

Sosnowsky's hogweed is toxic due to humidity and high air temperatures, so caution is especially advised in summer. Furthermore, it's worth knowing that burns can occur even without direct contact with Sosnowsky's hogweed , as the essential oils it releases can float in the air for distances of up to several meters.

Reporting the presence of Sosnowsky's hogweed should be done via the website https://mapa.barszcz.edu.pl/ . It's also a good idea to pass this information on to city or municipal officials . All Sosnowsky's hogweed locations are reported to the Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection (RDOŚ) in accordance with regulations, for inclusion in the national register of alien species.

Each city recommends different methods for reporting the presence of Sosnowsky's hogweed. For example, Lublin urges that if you suspect the plant is present in a city area or if you are unsure who owns the property, you should notify the city guard, who will secure the area and forward the information to the Department of Greenery and Municipal Services. If the hogweed is found on the property of a housing cooperative, you should contact the appropriate authorities. However, if the hogweed is found on private property, its removal is the responsibility of the property owner. Lublin reminds everyone that, above all, every possible measure should be taken to prevent the plant from producing seeds.

In urban areas, only isolated outbreaks of invasive hogweed have occurred, as we've been systematically working on them for several years, and they've proven effective. I must admit, however, that in this case, we're dealing with a truly formidable opponent. Sosnowsky's and Caucasian hogweeds survive even in the harshest conditions due to their resilience and extensive root systems, which can reach up to 2 meters deep. Furthermore, their seeds are characterized by extensive dispersal. Since last year, in accordance with guidelines, we've been using liming to remove this plant. By digging up the hogweed's roots and covering the area with lime, we create an alkaline environment that's unfriendly to growth and germination.

- says Blanka Rdest, Director of the Greenery and Municipal Management Department.

Because Sosnowsky's hogweed can be confused with common hogweed, angelica, parsnip, ground elder, tansy, or even yarrow, approximately 60% of reports in Lublin concern harmless species.

Before attempting to remove the plant yourself, it's worth contacting a specialist to determine whether it's a similar type of angelica, which is protected in Poland. Therefore, if you're unsure whether you're dealing with Sosnowsky's hogweed or its more dangerous cousins, it's worth consulting a specialist.

• do not touch them or pick plants with bare hands,
• when staying close to Sosnowsky's hogweed, protect your skin and respiratory system from UV radiation (glasses and creams with a filter, clothing made of non-absorbent plastics covering the skin, protective masks),
• remember that children's skin is more sensitive to the toxic effects of hogweed juice,
• do not stay near Sosnowsky's hogweed due to the volatile essential oils emitted into the environment, which may settle on the skin,
• you can't eat this plant.

• in case of direct exposure/contact with Sosnowsky's hogweed, wash the skin with lukewarm water and soap as soon as possible to remove the plant's sap from the skin surface,
• it is recommended to wash all items and clothes that have been in contact with hogweed,
• if serous blisters have appeared but have not burst, local corticosteroid ointments (creams) can be applied,
• in case of contact of eyes with the plant, rinse them thoroughly with water, protect from light and consult an ophthalmologist,
• you cannot touch the affected areas of the skin,
• cold ice packs should be applied to them and the choice of pharmacological agents should be consulted with a doctor,
• in case of severe burns and respiratory problems, call an ambulance,
• Regardless of the severity of symptoms, exposure to sunlight should be avoided (even if there are no symptoms for at least 48 hours).

The list of alien species is specified in the Regulation of the Council of Ministers on the list of invasive alien species posing a threat to the Union and the list of invasive alien species posing a threat to Poland, remedial actions and measures aimed at restoring the natural state of ecosystems.

It establishes a list of invasive alien species that pose a threat to Poland, dividing IGOs that pose a threat to Poland/the EU into those that are in the early stages of invasion and require rapid eradication, and those that are widespread and require remedial action. Furthermore, the regulation outlines possible methods for combating these IGOs. In the case of plants, these include:

• excavation,
• pulling out,
• mowing,
• shear,
• damaging, plowing or shading these plants,
• cutting, damaging or collecting parts from which these plants can reproduce,
• use of acceptable chemicals.