HEALTH HAZARDS OF PARTHENIUM HYSTEROPHORUS L. AND ITS MANAGEMENTS

Abstract

Parthenium hysterophorous L. is one of the most aggressive invasive weeds. Threatening natural ecosystems and agroecosystems in the world. Parthenium weed causes losses of crops and pastures, degrading the biodiversity of natural plant communities, causing human and animal health hazards and resulting in serious economic losses to people and their interests in many countries around the globe. Several of its biological and ecological attributes contribute towards its invasiveness. Parthenium is one of the worst weeds for agriculture. The environment and human health are almost throughout the country. Parthenium is extremely prolific and causes several economic losses, health problems and habitat destruction. This weed is considered to be a cause of allergic, respiratory problems, contact dermatitis and mutagenicity in humans and livestock. The plant causes acute allergic eczematous dermatitis in humans which under continued exposure becomes chronic. The skin of the neck, face and arms become hard like the skin of a crocodile from dermatitis passing over the populations of this herb. Some person is allergic to its pollens resulting in fever and asthma.