Sargassum seaweed carries potential for respiratory issues, says medical toxicologist

A 5,000-mile floating mass of seaweed has already began washing up on Florida seashores, and with it, the potential for respiratory well being considerations. A Baylor Faculty of Drugs knowledgeable explains what you want to know to maintain your loved ones protected on the seashore.

“The sargassum itself isn’t harmful. It will probably have completely different jellyfish and sea creatures in it that could possibly be a supply of sting,” stated Dr. Sarah Shafer, medical toxicologist and assistant professor within the Henry J.N. Taub Division of Emergency Drugs at Baylor. “As soon as the sargassum washes up on the seashore, in 48 hours it’s going to begin to break down and lose poisonous gasses. Because it decomposes, we’ve to fret about potential publicity to people.”

Sargassums decompose in a number of methods, together with releasing ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, a poisonous fuel. When hydrogen sulfide is “off gassed,” it will possibly produce the odor of rotten eggs even at low ranges, Shafer stated. When the fuel reaches a sure stage, nonetheless, people can grow to be “nose-blind” and never odor it.

“At low ranges, it smells like rotten eggs within the air. This occurs in pure sizzling springs, like at Yellowstone. It will probably trigger some irritant results,” she stated. “In excessive ranges, it will possibly trigger sudden loss of life.”

When extremely concentrated in a closed-off space like a sewer, hydrogen sulfide may be lethal. The compound is a chemical asphyxiant, which suggests it will possibly intrude with how cells perform, Shafer defined.

Since seashore seaweed isn’t in a closed-off space, asphyxiation is not going to be a priority for any fuel emitted. However it is going to be essential to concentrate to completely different smells when round seaweed this summer time.

What to look out for:

• Rotten eggs or ammonia odor
• Irritated eyes
• Nausea
• Mushy tissue irritation when you contact a chunk of seaweed with a better focus of hydrogen sulfide

Folks most at-risk:

• These recognized with bronchial asthma or different respiratory circumstances
• Those that reside close to the seashore

Shafer recommends anybody with respiratory considerations go away the world in the event that they odor rotten eggs. “In the event you do not feel good, get away from it,” she stated. “If there may be sufficient sargassum that is off-gassing that a lot, you will not need to be there anyway.”