How sargassum affects air quality, beach environments and exposure risks for families

As another heavy sargassum season unfolds, many beachgoers are asking the same question: Is it safe to be near it? A recent University of Miami study offers an evidence-based answer, particularly for children. Overall risks are low, but not zero. The research, published in Exposure and Health, found that noncancer risks from arsenic exposure during beach play are minimal. But it also identified small increased cancer risks in certain scenarios, particularly from skin contact and accidental ingestion, underscoring the need to better understand how children interact with sargassum on the beach.