O-33 Long-term exposure to Sargassum-seaweed pollution in the French Caribbean Islands: clinical characteristics, consequences, and outcome
Author(s):
D Resiere, J Florentin, R Banydeen, M Drame, H Kallel, H Mehdaoui R Neviere
Type Of Study:
- Descriptive Study
- Observational Study
Year of Presentation:
2023
Objective: Since 2010, there has been an unexplained increasing invasion of Sargassum on the coast of Caribbean countries, including Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, Saint Kitts, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Barbados, and Puerto Rico. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and consequences of long-term exposure to Sargassum gaseous emissions among the local population.
Methods: From March 2018 to December 2022, we conducted a prospective follow-up of a patient cohort admitted to the emergency department of the University Hospital of Martinique due to exposure to sargassum. Patients were managed according to the protocol established by the Research Group on Sargassum in Martinique. We assessed patients’ exposure to Sargassum and air pollutants based on recordings of coastline sensors measuring H2S and NH3 levels and data from the Regional Air Quality Observatory. Demographics and clinical data (including cardiovascular, neurological, and respiratory events) were collected
Results: In the 6-year study period, 560 patients were included (age: 48 ± 20 years, 250M/310W, hypertension (N=85), diabetes (N=89), asthma (34), chronic renal insufficiency (N=13)). Patients mostly arrived with referral letters from their general practitioner (80%) and presented headaches (76%), developed gastrointestinal disturbances (79%), dizziness (54%), skin lesions (30%), cough (44%), and conjunctivitis (33%). Not all patients were clinically symptomatic. Initial lung function tests were normal (50%). Three patients were admitted to the intensive care unit
Conclusion: Our study indicates that the magnitude of health effects following long-term exposure to Sargassum may be larger than previously recognized. Efforts to limit long-term exposure are necessary