Cancún Faces Crisis: Sargassum Health Risks Revealed

Due to the influx of sargassum on the coasts of Quintana Roo and the government's collection strategies, researchers from the National Technological Institute of Mexico, Chetumal campus, have highlighted the potential risks to human health and the environment. These risks arise from improper handling during collection and the lack of designated disposal areas to prevent pollutants from seeping into the ground.

Julio Cesar Cruz Argüello, the coordinator of the Environmental Sciences area and a research professor at the Technological Institute of Chetumal, explained that sargassum absorbs harmful elements such as arsenic and lead during its journey at sea. This makes it potentially harmful to the skin, hence the recommendation for collectors to use gloves.

Argüello emphasized that it's not as simple as just picking up the sargassum from the beach. The plant absorbs industrial pollutants like arsenic and lead from the sea, and these elements need to be considered when classifying the plant. He stressed the importance of using gloves during collection to prevent skin damage and the need to identify specific disposal points to avoid soil contamination.

Argüello also noted that they have been conducting safety briefings with the sargassum collectors from Mahahual. These briefings cover safe handling and transportation of the plant to collection centers where it can be processed by interested companies. He mentioned that for the past three years, they have received funding from the ITNM for research projects focused on studying, classifying, and finding uses for sargassum. This research has opened up possibilities for using the plant in construction, insulation materials, and modified concrete, all in compliance with established regulations.

In conclusion, Argüello clarified that while researchers can provide guidance, they cannot determine the final disposal sites for sargassum. However, he noted that there are companies interested in the transformation process and the final use of the plant.