A long-awaited scientific investigation into the health impacts of sargassum on coastal workers is nearing completion, with preliminary results expected to be released in early 2026.
The study, led by the Quintana Roo Council of Humanities, Science and Technology (Coqcyt) in collaboration with specialists from the Autonomous University of Quintana Roo (UQROO), resumed this year after a season of unusually low sargassum arrivals stalled progress in 2024.
Key Highlight
Scientists say early findings reinforce concerns about respiratory risks from inhaling sargassum leachate — not just from physical contact with the algae.
The project focuses specifically on people who manually collect sargassum, a group considered to have the highest prolonged exposure. According to Project Director Cristopher Malpica Morales, this year’s abundant sargassum influx and the release of long-delayed funding allowed researchers to restart fieldwork in July 2025.
Respiratory Concerns After New Findings
Researchers are assessing the effects of inhaling gases and vapors released by decomposing sargassum — known as leachate — after observing respiratory symptoms in workers. Previous studies in the Caribbean have found that sargassum decomposition can emit hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and ammonia, both of which can irritate the eyes, throat, and lungs. Recent environmental analyses by Mexican agencies have also detected fluctuating levels of sulfur compounds along affected coastlines, adding urgency to the investigation.
The UQROO team will also analyze concentrations of heavy metals that sargassum often absorbs while floating across the Atlantic. These include arsenic, copper, manganese, and molybdenum — elements that, in high doses, can pose risks to human health and local ecosystems. Comparable studies in Barbados and Puerto Rico have previously identified elevated arsenic levels in dried sargassum samples, intensifying concerns about long-term exposure.
Budget Reduced But Study Continues
Although initial estimates placed the research budget at 400,000 pesos, only about 115,000 pesos were ultimately allocated for this year’s phase. Most of the spending has gone toward transportation and field sampling along the Riviera Maya coastline.
Malpica Morales emphasized that despite the reduced budget, the core scientific objectives remain on track:
“The research focuses on the effects of inhaling sargassum leachate because the researchers determined that there were beginning to be effects through inhalation rather than direct contact. That is what we will discover with this research.”
Final Phase Underway
Technical lead Dr. Lourdes, who heads UQROO’s Faculty of Health Sciences, is overseeing the study’s concluding phase. According to Malpica Morales, the research team expects to finalize data analysis by year-end.
What Comes Next
The forthcoming results are anticipated to guide new public-health recommendations for sargassum cleanup crews and inform environmental policy across the Mexican Caribbean. As sargassum seasons continue to fluctuate in volume and intensity — driven in part by warming ocean temperatures and nutrient-rich runoff — regional authorities are under increasing pressure to understand and mitigate the risks to both people and coastal ecosystems.
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