Council clears weed of deadly gas...

Shoalhaven Mayor Paul Green ordered tests following community concerns about health risks associated with hydrogen sulphide exposure, however the test on Friday could not find a trace of hydrogen sulphide.

Cr Green said he was hoping to meet with other agencies including the Health Department, EPA and Marine Parks Association later this week to discuss ongoing concerns about hydrogen sulphide gas.

“I’m trying to get a multi-agency approach to this so we can look at the best way of moving forward,” Cr Green said.

Council also revealed the algal bloom that led to an abundance of seaweed in Jervis Bay, washing up on beaches around Callala, was caused by the region’s unusually warm spring.

The weed rotting on beaches has been identified as the drift alga Microdictyon umbilicatum, and Australian species known to drift along the floor of shallow bays such as Jervis Bay, where water clarity allows good light penetration to the bottom.

Council said the alga was a key part of the ecosystem and was “basically the start of the food chain for the bay”.

“While it is in water the alga provides food and habitat to a large number of invertebrates (critters) such as small bivalves and amphipods (prawn-like animals).

“It is an important component of the biological diversity of the bay and an important source of food for fishes in the bay.”

Council said even decomposing algae on beaches was important to the environment.

“Research shows that this leads to an important input of nutrients and leads to increases in diversity and abundance of beach invertebrates such as beach worms and amphipods, which in turn provide food for fishes,” it said.

It claimed the algae would disappear once water conditions were less suitable.

...so what’s making

these kids so ill?

By GLENN ELLARD

SEVERAL Callala Bay and Callala Beach residents have been suffering mysterious ailments in recent weeks.

The gas produced by rotting seaweed covering normally white sand around Callala has been linked to a wide range of medical problems including sore throats, eye irritations, dizziness, nausea, headaches and loss of appetite.

People suffering from asthma claim to have been hit particularly hard, while there are fears for some of the area’s frail and elderly residents.

However even the young and fit are being hit by debilitating symptoms.

John Lay of Callala Bay said his sons Samuel, 16, and 12-year-old Quinten had missed about half their school days this year due to problems including headaches, nausea, dizziness and sore throats.

The boys had also lost their appetites, which Mr Lay said was highly unusual.

He thought the illnesses were caused by a virus, until he saw on Friday the list of symptoms associated with hydrogen sulphide exposure, which included the problems affecting his sons.

“My boys normally don’t get sick,” Mr Lay said.

“We’re not blaming the seaweed and the gas, but we think it’s a very interesting coincidence.”

Mr Lay said he also suffered a sore throat when in Callala, which went away soon after he left the area, but returned when he returned.

“I’m very concerned about it,” he said.

“It’s a serious problem, and I think it needs some serious action as soon as possible.”

President of the Sailability program and vice-president of the Callala Sailing School, Mr Lay said steps needed to be taken to protect people taking part in both programs.

Sailability, offering people with disabilities the chance to sail, was due to continue every Thursday morning for the next three months, but has been cancelled for the rest of the season because of concerns about gas exposure.

The sailing school’s operations are also expected to be cancelled.

Mr Lay said it was not just the gas that caused concern, as people from the sailing school who walked through water to help move boats came out with rashes covering all areas that got wet.

“We have to cancel the thing because I don’t want to see any kids get sick,” Mr Lay said.

While Callala residents continue to complain of symptoms associated with exposure to the potentially deadly hydrogen sulphide gas, Callala medical practitioner Dr Rosita Rossman said she had not seen a noticeable increase in patients presenting with problems traditionally linked to hydrogen sulphide exposure.

Silver jewellery turns black in the Bay’s water

IN recent months a group of older women has been ignoring the weed invasion at Callala Bay to continue their regular water aerobics classes.

“We’re pretty tough, us old girls,” explained group member Maureen Boler.

However three members of the group recently suffered something that shocked them and set their hearts racing.

Several wore jewellery into the water, and within five minutes of getting into the water all silver jewellery had turned black – a key indication of the presence of hydrogen sulphide dissolved in the water.

Mr Boler said jewellery worn by three women turned black on the day, which had not happened before or since.

However, she said she was more careful to take off all jewellery before entering the water since the event.

Last week the water aerobics class was cancelled because the smell was too bad, and Mrs Boler said numbers at the sessions had dropped dramatically since piles of rotting weed on the sand started to make life unpleasant.

But those who continued to attend had suffered sore throats, eye irritations and nasal infections, Mrs Boler said.

She added her asthma had also been playing up more than ever before.

“I’m using a puffer more than I ever have been,” she said.

“The foul smell, it just seems to get in the back of my throat and it sets me off wheezing.”

Mrs Boler said her asthma meant she could not use air conditioning, and the smell coming from the rotting weed meant on many days she could not open her windows.

“I have definitely noticed a difference in my health, and I just don’t like being like that,” she said.

“Summer should be free and easy with the doors and windows open, but you just can’t do that.

“You can’t stand the stench when the house is open.”

Mrs Boler said the smell at times was so bad she had to drive with one hand over her mouth to stop herself vomiting.

“It does make you dry retch at times,” she added.