Journal of
Public Health and Epidemiology

  • Abbreviation: J. Public Health Epidemiol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2316
  • DOI: 10.5897/JPHE
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 662

Full Length Research Paper

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

Aziza, H. Said
  • Aziza, H. Said
  • Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Science, P.O. Box, 8146. Oslo, Norway.
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Flower, E. Msuya
  • Flower, E. Msuya
  • Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 668, Zanzibar, Tanzania.
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Margareth, S. Kyewalyanga
  • Margareth, S. Kyewalyanga
  • Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 668, Zanzibar, Tanzania.
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Aviti, J. Mmochi
  • Aviti, J. Mmochi
  • Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Dar es Salaam, P.O. Box 668, Zanzibar, Tanzania.
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Evalyn, W. Mwihia
  • Evalyn, W. Mwihia
  • Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Science, P.O. Box, 8146. Oslo, Norway.
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Eystein Skjerve
  • Eystein Skjerve
  • Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Science, P.O. Box, 8146. Oslo, Norway.
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Helena, A. Ngowi
  • Helena, A. Ngowi
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, Collage of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. O. Box 3021 Morogoro, Tanzania.
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Jan, L. Lyche
  • Jan, L. Lyche
  • Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Science, P.O. Box, 8146. Oslo, Norway.
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  •  Received: 21 March 2018
  •  Accepted: 04 June 2018
  •  Published: 31 August 2018

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 cross-sectional 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.

Key words: Algal blooms, cyanobacteria, seaweed farming, seaweed farmers, skin irritation, Tanzania.