EES Seminar – Sargassum Influxes: Benefits and Risks, Helena Solo-Gabriele, U. Miami

Details

Abstract: Changes in ocean nutrient deliveries and climate change have influenced the amount of the macroalgae (Sargassum) produced in the oceans. Since 2011, the amounts have been increasing resulting in opportunities and negative impacts. This presentation will focus on describing the important the benefits and risks associated with Sargassum inundations. It is well known that in moderate amounts Sargassum plays a critical role in oceanic and shoreline beach ecosystems and also plays a role in sequestration of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, when in excess, the ecosystems are overwhelmed and require the management of these excess quantities. This presentation will describe the potential negative health impacts if the Sargassum is left unmanaged and will describe possible strategies to recycle the material for beneficial uses.

Biography: Dr. Helena Solo-Gabriele is a Professor in the Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering at the University of Miami (Florida) where she specializes in teaching courses in Environmental Laboratory Measurements, Environmental Engineering Microbiology, and Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Design. Her research focuses on establishing the links between the environment and human health. Her research has expanded a wide range of environmental contaminant assessments which have included microbiological contaminants in coastal settings and in utilizing microbes found in wastewater to track disease. In addition she has focused her efforts in evaluating chemical contaminants including PFAS and arsenic. For her arsenic work, she has collaborated extensively with Dr. Tim Townsend of the University of Florida evaluating arsenic releases associated with a wood treatment preservative called chromated copper arsenate (CCA). Her research interests in coastal contaminants and arsenic have merged with research focused on a common seaweed, Sargassum, which is the topic of her presentation.