Adolfo Sánchez-Blanco, a biology professor, is known for regularly sharing informative videos on his TikTok account.
In a recent video, the Connecticut-based professor demonstrated the contents of ocean water that you actually swallow when you go into the ocean.
In the viral video that has amassed over 6.8 million views, the professor provides viewers with insight into the microscopic organisms that are most likely present in the water you swallow.
The scientist collected a water sample from the ocean and placed a droplet of water beneath a microscope.
The video showed that examined seawater droplets contained numerous microorganisms, among which was the Nauplius larva of a minuscule crustacean—a developmental stage akin to the beginning stages of life.
Among the findings were a Diatom positioned alongside a grain of sand, a fractured diatom frustule, a Dinoflagellate, another Diatom, a collective diatom, and a motile protozoan.
A Diatom is a single-cell Algae, while a protozoan is classified as a parasitic organism
In his video, Adolfo also explained that although these organisms are nearly invisible to the naked eye, it's highly probable that anyone who has taken a dip in the ocean has unintentionally ingested them at some point.
He was quick to emphasize that these microorganisms are not likely to cause any significant harm.
He explained in the caption:
'If you like swimming in the ocean, it is just a matter of time until you will swallow a little water by accident'.
'But if you were to swallow a little bit of ocean water by accident, do not worry as it won’t make you sick. The hydrochloric acid that your stomach produces will kill the microorganisms that you ingest.'
He continued: 'So don’t get scared! Microscopic life is always present in all aquatic ecosystems. Microscopic life like what you saw in the video is essential to maintain the overall health of aquatic ecosystems.
'The problem is when an aquatic ecosystem like the ocean gets polluted. This will alter the balance in the ecosystem and microorganisms such as bacteria will thrive.
'For example, when ocean water contains excessive amounts of bacteria, this will lead to gastrointestinal infections, skin issues, or other worse problems,' he explained.
The professor highlighted the importance of refraining from ingesting ocean water, as you never know what is concealed within it.
However, he emphasized that the microorganisms shown in the video pose no harm.
In an interview with Newsweek, he said that while it's not uncommon for microorganisms to be hazardous, the level of risk varies based on the origin of the water sample
Watching the video below:
