
FRIDAY, May 26, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Be cautious when heading to Florida's beaches this summer, an expert warned, as a 5,000-mile floating mass of sargassum seaweed has begun washing up on the state's shores. It can be low risk in some instances, but it also has the potential for triggering serious respiratory health issues. “The sargassum itself is not dangerous. It can have different jellyfish and sea creatures in it that could be a source of sting,†said Dr. Sarah Shafer, medical toxicologist and an assistant professor in the department of emergency medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. However, “once the sargassum washes up on the beach, in 48 hours it will start to break down and lose toxic gasses. As it decomposes, we have to worry about potential exposure...