THE INSTITUTE’S LABORATORY EQUIPPED WITHIN THE “ALLERSHIELD” PROJECT
The Public Scientific Research Institution “Institute for Protection and Ecology of the Republic of Srpska” Banja Luka has successfully equipped its laboratory within the “AllerShield” project, which is being implemented through the Interreg VI-A IPA CBC Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro programme. The project is focused on strengthening cross-border solutions for managing allergenic plants and enhancing climate resilience, with a special emphasis on monitoring allergenic pollen concentrations and air quality.
Within the project activities, the Institute, as a project partner, is responsible, among other things, for strengthening laboratory capacities, analyzing pollen indicators, participating in the development of a joint monitoring system, as well as carrying out procurement necessary for project implementation. Through this project, the Institute is strengthening its capacities for monitoring and analyzing air quality in the context of pollen, thereby directly contributing to environmental improvement and the protection of public health.
The supplier of the laboratory equipment is Mikro+Polo d.o.o., and the delivered equipment includes, among other items, a fume hood, a central workbench, laboratory cabinets, a sink unit, laboratory chairs, and other equipment.
The importance of this laboratory is multifaceted. The “AllerShield” project is based on the fact that there are no continuous long-term measurements of pollen concentrations in the Banja Luka area, while previous measurements were conducted only occasionally and at a single location. For this very reason, the newly equipped laboratory represents an important step toward more systematic monitoring of allergenic pollen, strengthening aerobiological monitoring, and providing more reliable data for both the professional community and the general public.
In addition, the project has established a pollen monitoring network, the development of a platform accessible to the public is underway, and timely information on air quality and aeroallergen concentrations is being provided. Such data are of particular importance for citizens suffering from allergies, but also for healthcare institutions, experts, decision-makers, and all institutions engaged in environmental protection and public health.
The equipping of the laboratory further strengthens the Institute’s overall scientific research and professional capacities. In this way, the conditions are being created for higher-quality laboratory work, more reliable analyses, better support for project activities, and the further development of modern services in the field of air monitoring, pollen monitoring, and the impact of climate change on the environment. At the same time, the new equipment provides a foundation for the long-term use of project results and the further enhancement of the Institute’s institutional capacities.