The RealForAll project has developed and introduced a real-time monitoring system, airborne pollen exposure forecasts and a mobile application to disseminate these, to help manage seasonal allergies and improve public health in the cross-border area of Croatia and Serbia.
- 07 January 2020
RealForAll has acquired, tested and made operational the first flow-cytometry-based systems for automated real-time measurements of airborne allergenic pollen. The system includes two RAPID-e bioaerosol monitors, know-how for the identification of the most important allergenic pollen in Central Europe, such as birch, grass and common ragweed, and forecast models for long-term and short-term prediction of pollen exposure. The project built an online platform for disseminating information by using Android and iOS smartphone apps.
To modernise public health services in the region between Osijek, Croatia and Novi Sad, Serbia, Serbian research company BioSense Institute partnered with the universities of both cities and the City of Osijek to address and better manage allergies to airborne pollen.
Modernising allergy management systems
Through EU funding, the project acquired two devices that can detect, measure and analyse bioaerosols – small airborne particles that occur in nature – and airborne pollen concentrations. Based on samples taken from these particles, the Rapid-E devices use flow cytometry techniques to detect levels of light scattering and fluorescence that match those of the sampled particles to identify pollen concentrations.
Where former allergy management systems were often limited by not being able to get any information to the end user in time, any data gathered by the RealForAll devices is immediately fed onto a dedicated website and mobile application. Both developed by the project, the webpage and application can be accessed instantaneously by medical services, doctors and patients, providing real-time data on pollen concentrations in their area. The smartphone application is available on iOS and Android devices to ensure the widest possible access.
Detection and forecast
Allergy sufferers who use the application can rely on the data to plan their daily activities, because besides measurements the application also pollen concentration forecasts. Based on historic measurements and registrations of birch, grass and ambrosia – three of the more common pollen allergens – the application can alert people of high exposure risks.
People can record their allergic reactions and symptoms and upload them onto the app. Their doctor can compare this information with their previous data to provide more effective medical advice. Such eHealth services allow both medical services and patients to better understand allergic reactions, symptoms and allergen levels, and plan the duration of any required therapies. Being more involved in their own treatment not only improves allergy sufferers’ quality of life, but also lowers the pressure on and costs borne by healthcare systems.
Educating end-users on preventive measures
The project has organised a workshop in both cities, in which 60 medical professionals, kindergarten and geriatric staff participated. The workshops were aimed at educating participants about the benefits of the eHealth services for the region’s population, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly and promote allergy self-management.
Seasonal allergies are an important heathcare problem in the cross-border area due to high atmospheric concentrations of allergenic pollen. Based on the prevalence of pollen allergies in the area, the project expects 5 000 people to use the eHealth platform during the project implementation period.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “RealForAll – Real-time measurements and forecasting for successful prevention and management of seasonal allergies in Croatia-Serbia cross-border region” is EUR 624 220, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund and Instrument for Pre-Acession Assistance II contributing EUR 530 587 through the “Interreg IPA Croatia-Serbia” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Health; Innovation, research and technological development”.