A recent report by the Dominican Republic news outlet N Digital Multimedia has raised concerns about the potential threat posed by highly polluted sargassum and flesh-eating bacteria present in the water.
According to the report, a study conducted by INTEC University found that the sargassum washing ashore cannot be repurposed for agricultural use due to its high concentration of toxic elements, which can be harmful to both animals and humans.
“The concentration of arsenic in the sargassum species arriving on the country’s beaches exceeds the international limits established for agricultural use and animal feed.” according to findings published in the scientific journal Marine Pollution.
The three varieties of sargassum studied showed the presence of 11 heavy metals, with iron, zinc and the highly toxic arsenic having the highest concentrations. Other harmful metals included cadmium (found in three of the beaches), nickel (in five) and lead (in six).
Read also: Dominican Republic Sargassum Seaweed Season 2024 (Report, Maps, Forecast)
Last year, approximately 3.5 million metric tons of sargassum washed up on the country’s shores, impacting tourism, marine life and threatening the livelihoods of thousands of families whose limited incomes depend on the sea.
Both the Ministry of the Environment and the President himself have addressed the issue due to its growing impact on tourism revenue and even on the country’s critical infrastructure.
“It visibly affects tourism more. In the Energy Cabinet, we had an alert because several thermoelectric plants located along the coast turned on their red lights. But it is also affecting the development of our ports and our small-scale fishermen,” said the Dominican Republic President, Luis Abinader.
In fact, not long ago, a diver tragically drowned while removing sargassum from the waters near the Punta Catalina power plant, where sargassum had affected the cooling systems. It has become common for this plant to be out of service due to the massive influx of seaweed.
Back in April, President Abinader announced the allocation of $1 million for sargassum management and research.
However, this is not the only challenge affecting the country’s beaches.
A news story that had not made headlines—until now—was the discovery of “flesh-eating” bacteria on several beaches.
According to microbiologist Frank Reyes, a 2023 study by N Investiga and FRANJA laboratories identified the bacteria, which experts in the US consider highly difficult to treat.
This bacteria “is the main pathogen causing death in marine estuaries in the United States and it’s the leading cause of amputations. Why? Because it causes necrotizing fasciitis. It enters through a wound and rapidly destroys the entire limb,” Reyes explained at the time.
Samples of the bacteria were found hidden in sargassum in Boca Chica, as well as in parts of Montesinos and Güibia beach.
Without exception, all samples contained “high levels of bacterial colonies of Vibrio vulnificus, the ‘flesh-eating’ bacteria,” Reyes said.
Infections caused by Vibrio vulnificus can be fatal, as they may lead to septicemia and skin necrosis, primarily affecting people with weakened immune systems or preexisting health conditions.
Authorities have yet to comment on the issue.