title: An Epidemiologic Approach to the Study of Aerosolized Florida Red Tides.
abstract: Very little has been published in the scientific literature on the human health effects of Florida red tide, either as human clinical case reports or formal epidemiologic studies. In addition to the health effects associated with the ingestion of contaminated shellfish, there have been multiple anecdotal reports of respiratory irritation and possible immunologic effects associated with the inhalation of aerosolized Florida red tide. To investigate the human health effects from environmental exposure to red tide toxins, we have formed an interdisciplinary team of scientists. We have created a network of public and environmental health workers who periodically report local conditions as a red tide develops. In addition, we have access to environmental monitoring data as well as data from a surveillance program supported through the Florida Poison Information Network. When a red tide moves onshore where people might be exposed, the team rapidly assembles at the site to collect environmental samples and epidemiologic data. To assess the more long-term effects from environmental exposure to red tide toxins, we are conducting epidemiologic studies involving occupational and sensitive populations who live in areas that are regularly impacted by red tides. Other scientists are evaluating the acute and chronic respiratory effects of red tides and brevetoxins in both rat and sheep models as well as refinement of toxin measurement methodology. These models are being used to refine and validate the biomarkers of brevetoxins exposure as well as explore the pathophysiology of health effects from brevetoxins respiratory exposure. Bolstered by the additional research in rat and sheep models, this interdisciplinary scientific team is exploring the acute and chronic exposures and health effects of aerosolized Florida red tides in animal models and various human populations. In the future, this research can be applied to the understanding of exposure and effects of other aerosolized natural toxins such as cyanobacterial toxins.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Marine and Freshwater Biomedical Sciences Center, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Lora E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Lorraine C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Backer
authors.affiliation: Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick
authors.affiliation: Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dalpra
authors.affiliation: Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28409, USA.
authors.forename: Judy A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bean
authors.affiliation: South Florida Poison Information Center, Miami, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Yung Sung
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.affiliation: Twins City Hospital, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Dominick
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Squicciarrini
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zaias
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Naar
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weisman
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bossart
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wanner
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harrington
authors.forename: Gayl
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van De Bogart
authors.forename: Daniel G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Baden