Sargassum seaweed has began invading Florida’s seashores and the anticipated impression is worse than in earlier years.
The authorities have been cleansing the seashores ever since they had been alerted to the scenario however the peak of seaweed season is nearly to return.
Is the sargassum seaweed harmful?
Sargassum resembles a brown, leafy seaweed more often than not. It usually floats on the floor of the ocean. It originated within the Sargasso Sea, a big area of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Sargassum Data Hub claims the algae “supplies meals and shelter for fish, mammals, seabirds, crabs and extra.”
In typical circumstances, it may possibly promote well being of the ecosystem. Dolphins and turtles, however, can suffocate if they’re unable to interrupt via the water’s floor when it turns into too thick. With out daylight, crops on the ocean ground may also perish.
People are additionally in danger from sargassum. It offers off rotten-egg-smelling ammonia and hydrogen sulfide gasoline. Inhaling this gasoline could cause issues with the pores and skin, mind, and lungs. It will probably additionally trigger indicators corresponding to nausea, issue respiration, and pores and skin irritation. Excessive publicity to sargassum can generally even be deadly.
In Guadeloupe and Martinique, there have been 11,000 possible circumstances of sargassum poisoning in 2018. Sufferers reported having complications, pores and skin rashes, vertigo, and shortness of breath.
Sargassum gasoline publicity isn’t treatable in any method. Signs are sometimes minor and enhance with time. It’s endorsed to hunt medical consideration if signs worsen. It’s advisable to avoid seaweed altogether. Strolling on the seashore is discouraged, particularly if the air smells like rotten eggs.
The tourism sector has additionally been affected by the sargassum bloom in Florida. In line with Dr. Gustavo Jorge Gonie, an oceanographer with the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, vacationers are strongly suggested to examine for the presence of sargassum on their chosen seashore earlier than visiting. He additionally shared:
“We’re making an attempt to work on these early warning techniques — excessive decision in coastal areas, which takes higher-resolution satellite tv for pc imagery to do a greater job exhibiting what’s truly coming right into a seashore inside the subsequent 24 or 48 hours.”
What are the choice makes use of of Sargassum seaweed?
Sargassum has numerous various makes use of past its conventional use as a fertilizer. A few of these various makes use of embody:
- Animal feed: Sargassum seaweed can be utilized as a feed complement for livestock and poultry on account of its excessive dietary content material.
- Bioplastics: Sargassum seaweed can be utilized to supply biodegradable plastics as a substitute for conventional petroleum-based plastics.
- Biofuels: Sargassum seaweed can be utilized to supply biofuels corresponding to ethanol and butanol.
- Cosmetics: Sargassum seaweed is utilized in some beauty merchandise, corresponding to facial masks, on account of its skin-nourishing properties.
- Prescribed drugs: Sargassum seaweed accommodates compounds which have potential medicinal properties and can be utilized to supply medication for numerous diseases.
- Soil erosion management: Sargassum seaweed can be utilized to stop soil erosion in coastal areas.
- Water purification: Sargassum seaweed can be utilized to take away heavy metals and different pollution from water.
