The Gulf Coast of Florida is currently experiencing a severe red tide event caused by toxic algae Karenia brevis, which has resulted in the death of marine life and poses health risks to humans. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) occur when algae grow out of control and produce toxic effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and birds. The best known HAB in the US occurs along Florida's Gulf Coast each summer and is caused by microscopic algae that produce toxins which can make the surrounding air difficult to breathe and make shellfish dangerous to eat. Symptoms of exposure to marine harmful algal bloom toxins include respiratory, throat, eye, and skin irritation, asthma attacks, and various types of shellfish poisoning. It is important to take steps to prevent exposure to harmful algal blooms.
New research has analyzed over 60 years of Karenia brevis (K. brevis) cell count data to define the severity and cycles of annual and inter-annual red tide blooms in Southwest Florida. The study developed a bloom severity index and a respiratory irritation index to compare bloom severity and found that blooms typically occur from August to the winter months, with October and November being the most frequently impacted. The study also identified higher-than-usual offshore winds as suppressing respiratory impacts. Severe blooms, such as those in 2006, 2012, and 2018, caused significant respiratory irritation, while other years had almost no impact. The study aims to help decision-makers evaluate risks and design systems to mitigate bloom impacts, and identifies a wind metric that can associate bloom concentration with respiratory irritation for future studies. The study was conducted by researchers from NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System, and the Florida Wildlife Conservation Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.
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