
Be cautious when heading to Florida’s beaches this summer, an expert warned, as a 5,000-mile floating mass of sargassum seaweed has begun washing up on the state’s shores. It can be low risk in some instances, but it also has the potential for triggering serious respiratory health issues. “The sargassum itself is not dangerous. It can have different jellyfish and sea creatures in it that could be a source of sting,” said Dr. Sarah Shafer, medical toxicologist and an assistant professor in the department of emergency medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. However, “once the sargassum washes up on the beach, in 48 hours it will start to break down and lose toxic gasses. As it decomposes, we have to worry about potential exposure to humans.” Sargassum can decompose in one of several ways. It can release ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, which is toxic, she explained in a college news release. Even at low levels, hydrogen sulfide can produce the smell of rotten eggs. Yet when the gas reaches a certain level, humans can become “nose-blind” and not smell it. “At low levels, it smells like rotten eggs in the air. This happens in natural hot springs, like at Yellowstone. It can cause some irritant effects,” Shafer said. “In high levels, it can cause sudden death.” This can be a concern in closed-off… read on > read on >