Tingui: the sickness by exposure to marine aerosols in the Northeast of Brazil

On the northeastern coast of Brazil, in Tamandaré Bay and a small fishing village nestled between a cliff and the sea (Lagoa Azeda), a peculiar phenomenon known as tingui has occurred since at least 1943, and likely even earlier. The word tingui originated from the Tupi language, spoken by the region's indigenous people, and means "liquid of seasickness” or “foamy water”. During events, individuals exposed to marine aerosols experience symptoms such as respiratory distress, epistaxis, eye irritation, cough, and astenia. In more severe cases, the illness may progress to fever, muscle pain, joint pain; and post-orbital pain. The tingui phenomenon occurs during the summer and affects people near the shoreline for two to three days. It is often associated with an unpleasant odour from the sea and may or may not be accompanied by red discoloration and foam in the seawater. The local community of Lagoa Azeda has been aware of tingui for generations. Fishermen traditionammy built houses uphill, where they temporary relocate to avoid illness caused by exposure to marine aerosols. Despite its historical presence, studies on the species responsible for tingui and the environmental conditions triggering symptoms in humans remain scarce. However, there is a growing awareness of these events, along with concerns that they may be increasing in frequency and intensity, possibly as a result of environmental changes in the region. Future summers will see efforts to monitor phytoplankton, benthic microalgae, and tingui occurrences to better understand mitigate their impacts.