STRENGTHENING CAPACITIES WITHIN THE ALLERSHIELD PROJECT: THE INSTITUTE RECEIVES A MODERN MICROSCOPE FOR POLLEN ANALYSIS
As part of the AllerShield – Strengthening Crossborder Solutions for Managing Allergenic Plants and Enhancing Climate Resilience project, financed through the Interreg VI-A IPA Croatia–Bosnia and Herzegovina–Montenegro programme, a new laboratory microscope equipped with a digital camera and advanced software for microscopic analysis has been delivered to the Institute for Protection and Ecology of the Republic of Srpska.
This equipment represents a significant enhancement of the Institute’s technical capacities, as it enables precise identification and measurement of pollen, which is essential for monitoring airborne allergens and producing reliable air-quality assessments. At the same time, the new microscope allows detailed analysis of plankton and nekton in aquatic ecosystems, as well as the identification and assessment of asbestos fibers, thereby expanding the range of services and research activities the Institute can perform.
The delivery of this equipment marks an important step in strengthening the Institute’s laboratory resources and advancing its scientific and research work in the fields of environmental protection, pollen monitoring, and public-health risk assessment. It also contributes to achieving the objectives of the AllerShield project, which supports the development of joint solutions for monitoring climate change and improving resilience in the cross-border area.
The AllerShield project is jointly implemented by the Institute of Public Health Zadar (Lead Partner), the Institute for Protection and Ecology of the Republic of Srpska, and the Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro, with the support of the European Union’s Interreg VI-A IPA programme.