Health problems related to algal bloom among seaweed farmers in coastal areas of Tanzania

Abstract

There is a scarcity of research-based data on the factors associated with skin irritation due to algal blooms in seaweed farming. Changes in temperature with an increase in nutrients levels lead to the growth of harmful algal blooms, which produce many active metabolites, some of which induce toxic responses in human including skin irritation. The objective of this study was to identify health problems experienced by seaweed farmers and the seasons when they occur, and how these are treated. A crosssectional study design was used to gather data using structured questionnaire, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The study was conducted between June and August 2015, in six villages, two from Mainland, and four from Zanzibar Islands, Tanzania. Study revealed that seaweed more than 50% of farmers experienced skin irritation problem, followed by 30.4% who had eye related problems, and only 19.6% had respiratory disorders as the most serious. Hot season, which is associated with algal blooms, was the period with the highest occurrence of skin irritation. No specific medication was used to treat the health problems reported. In some severely affected areas, farmers could not tend to their farms for months, a situation which affected their income. It is suggested that the findings from this study would reduce this knowledge gap and motivate stakeholders especially the policy makers to implement measures, which reduce the health problems observed due to algal blooms in the seaweed farmers.

Occupational health and safety in aquaculture: Organisation of work and employment in small seaweed farms in North West Europe

“…Often aquaculture and seaweed operations occur in remote environments, making access to health services challenging (Cavalli et al 2019). Although literature on hazards in seaweed production are scarce and focused on studies carried out in the largest producing regions (see e.g., Said et al 2018;Ngajilo and Jeebhay 2019;Thamrin et al 2019;Thamrin et al 2020;Ngajilo et al 2023;Valderrama et al 2013), it is agreed that cultivation can entail biological (Cavalli et al 2019), ergonomic (Hussin and Khoso 2021;Shimada et al 1990;Thamrin et al 2020), and physical hazards (Hussin and Khoso 2021;Thamrin et al 2019). Thamrin et al (2020), also found that two-thirds (67%) of seaweed workers surveyed suffered from fatigue, especially during busy periods, suggesting that work organisation may also give rise to significant risks.…”

The empirical evidence for the social-ecological impacts of seaweed farming

“…[89,94,138]). However, the physical demands of seaweed farming can be detrimental to the well-being of practitioners; a range of ailments have been reported including musculoskeletal pains from hard physical labour, exposure to marine parasites during tending, and respiratory problems from the off-gassing of vapours during the drying process [90,95,100,[139][140][141]. Similarly, for some, seaweed farming has allowed a reliable income source; creating more consistent quality seaweeds relative to wild collection and safer production in the face of harmful algal blooms compared to fisheries sectors [142].…”

Harmful Algal Blooms in Aquaculture Systems in Ngerengere Catchment, Morogoro, Tanzania: Stakeholder’s Experiences and Perception

“…For example, health effects are also perceived to be connected to low water quality by farmers [ 20 ]. With algal blooms, there are already reported cases [ 21 ]. A study in Ukerewe, an island in Lake Victoria, evidenced the health impacts of cyanobacteria-contaminated drinking water in the area [ 22 ].…”