What were the most frequent reasons for medical evaluation in patients living in Martinique exposed to toxic gases of decompossing sargassum seaweed.
In a recent observational study performed in 2018 on the island of Martinique, patients most frequently reported neurologic, digestive and respiratory complaints. These were associated with higher levels of hydrogen sulfide due to decompossing sargassum seaweed. Additionally, ENT complaints including conjunctivitis and rhinitis were more frequent in patients exposed for greater than 1 month.
Resiere D et al. Sargassum seaweed health menace in the Caribbean: clinical characteristics of a population exposed to hydrogen sulfide during the 2018 massive stranding. Clin Tox 2020; published online 7 Jul 2020. https://doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2020.1789162