The analyzes began at the beginning of June and will continue until the end of September with updates every fortnight. After two months with zero detections, a presence of around 100-120 cells per liter was recorded, a figure which is still very low but destined to increase significantly in the coming weeks. Generally, in fact, between July and August an intensification of the phenomenon emerges. The highest peak last summer was that of 11,588 cells per liter on the Giovinazzo beach in mid-August 2023. In this case, the report concerns the coastal stretch in the southern area of Molfetta and the Giovinazzo coast near Santo Spirito. Bari, at the moment, still sees the figure equal to zero.
In general, it is an alga of microscopic dimensions, native to tropical and subtropical geographical areas, which for more than a decade has been reported in numerous Italian coastal areas, not only in Puglia. It usually lives on rocky bottoms, colonizing other macroscopic algae. Given the potential toxicity of the species, in certain conditions some health impacts may occur on those who frequent the coasts for bathing purposes, impacts which, however, can be considered mild and transitory.
When microalgae are locally and abundantly present, the action of the toxin in most cases can be achieved with the inhalation of a marine aerosol, which is formed almost exclusively in the presence of strong winds and storm surges that follow fairly long periods of calm. The symptoms, similar to para-flu symptoms, appear 2-6 hours after exposure.
