A headline-grabbing seaweed “blob” (which experts say isn’t a blob at all) continues to grow in the Atlantic and is expected to eventually wash ashore along the Caribbean and Florida’s east coast sometime this summer.
Made of a brown algae called sargassum, this particular patch of seaweed is making the news because of its size; it’s estimated to be 5,000 miles wide, or about double the width of the US. It’s about the same size or bigger than the one that hit in 2018, which was the largest ever and affected shores from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico.
When piled up and left untouched on sand, sargassum can decompose, releasing hydrogen sulfide, methane, ammonia, and other harmful gasses into the air that can cause respiratory problems. The seaweed contains heavy metals like cadmium and arsenic that can be toxic to the eyes, skin, liver, kidneys, and lungs. In large quantities, rotting sargassum can also support the growth of disease-causing germs, such as fecal bacteria.
However, the risk to the general population is low. Strong coastal winds will likely dilute most of the toxic gasses, and local communities are likely to sweep away as much sargassum from their shores as they can. But experts warn that people who live or work on or near affected beaches may be more likely to develop headaches or feel nauseous if sargassum is left to rot.
“It’s not the end of the world, and Florida is not going to be buried in seaweed. But you have to assess the risks and what you’re comfortable with,” said Mike Parsons, a marine science professor at the Florida Gulf Coast University.
Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexalee1/nashville-school-shooting-tennessee-gov-bill-lee-march-28