2023-06-20 09:10:38
Professionals are the most exposed
Professionals working on or near beaches, such as lifeguards or restaurateurs, are particularly affected. Prolonged exposure to Ostreopsis can lead to a lengthening of symptom duration. Professionals are encouraged to report these symptoms to occupational medicine. In general, an arrangement of working time might be envisaged in order to limit the duration of the presence of professionals on the beaches during the proliferation ofOstreopsis. ANSES also recommends wearingprotective equipment for people in charge of water sampling, including masks and gloves.
A tool to help local authorities manage risky situations
To protect the health of professionals but also that of people visiting the beaches, the Agency proposed decision tree for local authorities, in particular regional health agencies. This recommends the measures to be implemented according to the concentration of microalgae in the water or the number of recorded poisonings. These measures range from informing the public, in particular populations at risk and professionals, to banning water activities and closing beaches. ” THE people with breathing problems are most at risk of developing symptomsspecifies Carole Catastini, who coordinated the expertise. They should avoid being near the coast when there is a proliferation of Ostreopsis. »
Strengthening surveillance
ANSES also recommendsadapt the frequency of water withdrawals depending on the concentration of the microalgae. Bathing water health checks are usually carried out every 15 days. This frequency might become weekly or even daily when Ostreopsis is detected, in order to closely monitor the situation which can evolve in a few days. ” Similarly, monitoring should not be restricted to supervised beaches, as is currently the case, but all the beaches where there are water activitieswhether swimming, surfing or sailing, says Carole Catastini. We also know that the presence ofOstreopsis can be very localized : it can be present at one end of the range but not at the other. As microalgae develop on macroalgae before floating to the surface, the Agency also advises taking samples both in the water and on the bottom.
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