HEALTH RISKS FROM STRANDED SARGASSUM

Potential health risks from Sargassum strandings include exposures to arsenic, infectious microbes, and hydrogen sulfide.  This study explores environmental levels of arsenic, pathogenic microbes, and sulfer releases from stranded Sargassum.  The elevated levels of arsenic are due to the bioaccumulation, pathogenic microbes especially Vibrio species vary depending upon stranding duration, and sulfer species are volatilized from Sargassum when waterlogged.  This poster will introduce the health risks and focus on assessing arsenic.  Arsenic levels were documented in Sargassum, sand, and water at five beaches.  Mesocosm studies were conducted to evaluate the transport of arsenic from Sargassum, to sand, to water, and to the atmosphere. Results from mesocosm studies indicate that the majority of the arsenic volatilizes.  The arsenic that remains in the stranded Sargassum can be a source of exposure.  Using levels of arsenic found in Sargassum, sand, and water, along with human exposure factors indicates that cancer risks are on the order of 10^-4, which is considered low increased risk.  This risk to beach goers is driven by the dermal absorption factor.

Presentation Preference: Either

Primary Presenter: Helena Solo-Gabriele, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL (hmsolo@miami.edu)

Authors:

Helena Solo-Gabriele, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL  (hmsolo@miami.edu)

Afeefa Abdool-Ghany, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL  (aaa625@miami.edu)

Ayaaz Amirali, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL  (a.amirali@umiami.edu)

Rivka Reiner, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL  (rlr163@miami.edu)

Sofia Hoffman, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL  (sph5917@psu.edu)

Isabela Tavarez, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL  (ixt229@earth.miami.edu)

Matthew Roca, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL  (mxr1947@miami.edu)

Jiayu Li, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL  (jiayuli@miami.edu)