UCF Is Leading a Study to Understand Health Impacts of Algal Blooms

Harmful algal blooms do more than disappoint beachgoers with a do not swim advisory.

Excessive growths of blue-green algae, known as cyanobacteria, and Karenia brevis, which creates red tide, release toxins into the surrounding air and water that can negatively impact the environment and human health.

A team of researchers led by UCF is studying the relationships between these harmful algal blooms in Florida and how they impact human health, potentially causing respiratory, gastrointestinal, skin and liver issues.

"This study is about making it safe to enjoy our waterways," says Rebecca Koszalinski, College of Nursing associate professor who leads UCF's Human Health Outcomes of Exposure to Environmental Toxins Lab.

Koszalinski is using a One Health approach that examines how humans influence the environment and how the environment influences human health. The multidisciplinary research team includes experts from other universities as well as veterinarians, immunologists, clinical research nurses, water and air researchers, and epidemiologists.

The study focuses on Florida, where harmful algal blooms are common occurrences and found in all waterways. Florida is also where the blooms have the potential to impact the health of a large number of people, as the state is a top destination for outdoor enthusiasts, especially those who enjoy boating and fishing.

Koszalinski and her team are sampling both air and water to determine the presence of toxins throughout Florida's beaches and waterways. Air particles are absorbed using a nine-layer cascade impactor to predict how deeply toxins could go into the human respiratory tract.

Additionally, the team is collecting nasal swabs and small blood samples from residents and visitors in the area to determine if there has been any potential exposure.

The study is funded by the Florida Department of Health, and its first five-year phase showed an increase in dry cough, wheezing, nausea and abdominal pain among residents exposed to the blooms.

Now in its second phase, researchers are continuing to collect samples from previous participants in Lee County to examine potential health impacts over time and any long-term outcomes such as worsening pre-existing conditions.

Researchers are currently recruiting new study participants who live, visit or work in Florida.

By better understanding the implications of harmful algal blooms in Florida, the team hopes to better advise residents and visitors on when to exercise caution.

"For example, if you know you're going to be in the sun, you take precautions and put on sunscreen," Koszalinski says. "If you're going to be out on a boat and there's red tide nearby, what does that mean and what do our residents and visitors need to do for safety?"

"Florida is my home," Koszalinski continues, "and I want all our residents and visitors to continue to enjoy the wonderful outdoor recreational activities here."

About This Research

Health Outcomes Associated with Algal Blooms of Cyanobacteria and Red Tide in Florida: Long-Term Health Impacts of Harmful Algal Bloom Exposure, Phase 2. University of Central Florida and Florida Gulf Coast University. Florida Department of Health. Key Personnel: Koszalinski, R. (PI), McFarland, M. (Co-PI), Parsons, M. (Co-I), Reif, J. (epidemiologist).

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