Many of Anguilla’s picturesque beaches have become almost hidden by sargassum. Sargassum is a genus of large brown seaweed (a type of algae) that floats ‘in island-like masses’ and never attaches to the seafloor. Anguillians have gradually learned to adapt to living with the algae – mainly by removing it from the sand or ignoring it altogether. Many beaches in Anguilla, such as Island Harbour beach and The Forest Bay are some of the most notable beaches that have been covered with sargassum. The question is, though, is the sargassum on our shores a threat to our health?
Peter Denoble, MD, D.Sc , stated in an article, ‘Sargassum Toxicity: Here’s what you need to know’, that the sargassum becomes harmful to human health when it decomposes on land. The decomposition of beached Sargasso begins 48 hours after washing up and then releases hydrogen sulfide gas (which is what makes the sargassum smell), and ammonia. Humans breathing in these toxic gases can suffer from respiratory illnesses, such as asthma and pneumonia.
The Florida Health Organisation noted another negative effect of sargassum on humans: a skin irritation caused by the tiny creatures that live in sargassum. These tiny organisms, like larvae and jellyfish, can irritate the skin if they come in contact with it. Close contact with degrading Sargasso can also lead to the development of neurocognitive symptoms like headaches and changes in vision.
The sargassum can be threatening to our health, so here are some things that we can do to prevent it, according to the Florida Division of Disease Control and Health protection: avoid touching or going near to seaweed, use gloves if you must handle seaweed, close windows and doors if you live near the beach, and avoid or limit your time on the beach if you have asthma or other respiratory problems.
As recent as July 2022, the US Virgin Islands Governor Albert Bryan has declared a state of emergency in an effort to mitigate the impact of high levels of sargassum seaweed piling up on the shoreline. The US National Oceanography and Atmospheric Administration’s Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System has forecast that sargassum blooms are expected to impact many Caribbean islands even more in mid-October.
As Anguillians who love the beach and are concerned about our health, we must be cautious with this sargassum problem on our island.
– Contributed by Rhonica Connor
