Over the last several years, Florida’s east and west coasts have been threatened by harmful algal blooms. The geographic range of the algal blooms has expanded, and blooms are occurring more frequently, lasting longer and becoming more severe worldwide.
Human exposure to the toxins comes from ingestion, direct skin contact or inhalation, and can lead to a variety of ailments for those with skin sensitivities or respiratory health conditions. While there have been numerous occurrences of red tide and blue-green algae in Florida’s waters, scientists’ understanding of the long-term health effects from toxin exposures remains limited.
Currently, a multi-disciplinary team of FAU researchers is leading a first-of-its-kind evaluation to investigate the potential human health effects of long-term exposure to harmful algal blooms. Shirley Gordon, Ph.D., principal investigator and a professor in FAU’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, is spearheading the study.
The team’s latest study, a collaboration between FAU’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and Florida Gulf Coast University, expands upon prior studies by FAU and the Florida Department of Health. The project includes the establishment of a human tissue biorepository to provide an infrastructure for ongoing research around the state.
In addition to the human health impacts, the blooms have profound environmental and economic impacts, as well. The rapid, uncontrolled growth of algal populations can
greatly reduce the amount of sunlight that penetrates through ocean water, which poses a serious threat to submerged vegetation like seagrasses. Large, dense blooms can also deplete the amount of oxygen in the water and cause mass die-offs of animals.
Treating contaminated waterways and beaches can be costly. Tourism and property values, along with recreational activities such as boating, swimming and fishing, also suffer as a result of unsightly shorelines and odors from decaying material.
“An investment in FAU’s sustainability efforts is a gift to the planet, and ensures we can surpass the status quo and safeguard our world’s most precious resources,” expressed Gordon. “By making the environment a priority, and encouraging collaboration among disciplines, we can tackle our most pressing environmental issues today to ensure a better tomorrow.”
To learn more about how Florida Atlantic is supporting faculty research like Dr. Gordon’s, as well as how Transcend Tomorrow: The Campaign for Florida Atlantic University is working to create a healthier environment, train more health care workers, and provide scholarships to propel access to higher education, visit transcendtomorrow.fau.edu.