Growing ‘nightmare’ connected to contamination and international warming increases health dangers A thick layer of sargassum seaweed wandering into Olive Bay cleans ashore in Saint Francois on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. (Photo: AFP) CAPESTERRE-BELLE-EAU, Guadeloupe: Jose Viator was hoping travelers would flock to his beachside bar on the French islandchain of Guadeloupe, however he hasactually been required to close duetothefactthat of smelly brown seaweed. “It’s a problem,” the 61-year-old stated. The beautiful sand and blue-green Caribbean waters of his seaside town are normally a magnet for travelers at this time of year. But a thick carpet of possibly poisonous sargassum algae hasactually cleaned up on the beach of Capesterre, filling the air with the odor of rotten eggs as it breaksdown and keeping visitors at bay. It is simply one part of the Caribbean to have dealtwith extreme seaweed increase in current years, in a phenomenon that hasactually been connected to contamination and worldwide warming. More than a 3rd of the sargassum cleaning up in Guadeloupe over the past 12 years has landed in Viator’s town. “We make a living from tourist, however we’re required to close numerous months a year” since of the stench, he stated. The fumes likewise damage close-by homes and other home by consuming away at metal, however insurancecoverage business will not compensate the damage, he stated. A digger tilled up and down the beach close-by, scooping up clumps of the decomposing seaweed so that a truck might ferryboat them away. Jean-Fernand Diabangouaya, a 54-year-old benefit shop staffmember, stated individuals were resigned to the increase of brown algae. “We’re utilized to it. It’s been 12 years now,” he stated. Health threats Since 2011, 40% of the sargassum wa
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