As if the incoming and unprecedented giants waves of sargassum seaweed assaulting beaches in Florida and the Gulf Coast were not concerning enough from the standpoint of summer fun and tourism, now scientists are warning that it could also be the perfect medium for flesh-eating bacteria.
A new Florida Atlantic University study shows that the large floats of sargassum off the Florida coast might be the perfect mix for vibrio bacteria to grow and create a “pathogen storm” for beachgoers. But when it comes to the potential danger to humans, it really boils down to the amount of the bacteria in the seaweed.
“Various species of vibrio, including potentially infectious vibrio, occur on fish, in shellfisheries on our coastal habitats where we are swimming and recreating. A lot of times, that vibrio might be there in low amounts,” Kevin Johnson of Florida Tech’s marine sciences department said.
The FAU study focuses on the vibrio bacteria within the sargassum and the microplastic pollution floating with it, and what environment they create.
However, while you might want to be more careful than usual, you don’t need to panic yet. “It has not demonstrated that the sargassum coming onshore is especially dangerous with regard to bacterial infection for people. Many of the bacteria that are associated with those plastics and sargassum are already present in our environment,” Johnson said.
The study shows that vibrio present out in the ocean, amid the microplastics and sargassum, has changed and adapted. This indicates that it’s been out there for a while but the concentrations might be higher.
“It hasn’t been demonstrated yet to pose any elevated threat. If you have an open wound, you should be careful of where you go in any case,” Johnson said.
You might want to avoid the shore if you see sargassum weed on it.
