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1. Arsenic in private well water and birth outcomes in the United States.

Author

Bulka, Catherine M, Scannell Bryan, Molly, Lombard, Melissa A, Bartell, Scott M, Jones, Daniel K, Bradley, Paul M, Vieira, Veronica M, Silverman, Debra T, Focazio, Michael, Toccalino, Patricia L, Daniel, Johnni, Backer, Lorraine C, Ayotte, Joseph D, Gribble, Matthew O, and Argos, Maria

Subjects
Humans, Birth Weight, Arsenic, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Water Supply, Pregnancy, United States, Female, Groundwater, Drinking Water, Water Wells, Birth outcomes, Epidemiology, Private wells, Water contamination, Pediatric, Preterm, Low Birth Weight and Health of the Newborn, Prevention, Foodborne Illness, Perinatal Period - Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period, Infant Mortality, Environmental Sciences
Abstract

BackgroundPrenatal exposure to drinking water with arsenic concentrations >50 μg/L is associated with adverse birth outcomes, with inconclusive evidence for concentrations ≤50 μg/L. In a collaborative effort by public health experts, hydrologists, and geologists, we used published machine learning model estimates to characterize arsenic concentrations in private wells-federally unregulated for drinking water contaminants-and evaluated associations with birth outcomes throughout the conterminous U.S.MethodsUsing several machine learning models, including boosted regression trees (BRT) and random forest classification (RFC), developed from measured groundwater arsenic concentrations of ∼20,000 private wells, we characterized the probability that arsenic concentrations occurred within specific ranges in groundwater. Probabilistic model estimates and private well usage data were linked by county to all live birth certificates from 2016 (n = 3.6 million). We evaluated associations with gestational age and term birth weight using mixed-effects models, adjusted for potential confounders and incorporated random intercepts for spatial clustering.ResultsWe generally observed inverse associations with term birth weight. For instance, when using BRT estimates, a 10-percentage point increase in the probability that private well arsenic concentrations exceeded 5 μg/L was associated with a -1.83 g (95% CI: -3.30, -0.38) lower term birth weight after adjusting for covariates. Similarly, a 10-percentage point increase in the probability that private well arsenic concentrations exceeded 10 μg/L was associated with a -2.79 g (95% CI: -4.99, -0.58) lower term birth weight. Associations with gestational age were null.ConclusionIn this largest epidemiologic study of arsenic and birth outcomes to date, we did not observe associations of modeled arsenic estimates in private wells with gestational age and found modest inverse associations with term birth weight. Study limitations may have obscured true associations, including measurement error stemming from a lack of individual-level information on primary water sources, water arsenic concentrations, and water consumption patterns.

Published
2022

2. Monitoring and measuring human health and well-being

Author

Backer, Lorraine C., primary, Lavery, Amy, additional, Solo-Gabriele, Helena, additional, Schnall, Amy H., additional, Roberts, Virginia A., additional, Vigar, Marissa, additional, Gleason, Michelle E., additional, Kieszak, Stephanie, additional, Estenik, John, additional, Reich, Andrew, additional, Court, Christa, additional, Wowk, Katya, additional, Stephan, Wendy Blair, additional, Kirkpatrick, Barbara, additional, Trainer, Vera, additional, Stumpf, Richard P., additional, Coffey, Kara, additional, Koeneke, Roberto, additional, and Botta, Robert D., additional

Published
2023
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3. Contributors

Author

Aasly, Kurt, primary, Abós-Herràndiz, Rafael, additional, Ainsworth, Gillian B., additional, Alaba, Maria Retchie, additional, Alarcon, Rowell, additional, Alcantara-Creencia, Lota, additional, Allué, Rosario, additional, Almohammadi, Doha Saad A., additional, Aludia, Geofrey M., additional, Aludia, Phoebejean H., additional, Ang, Li Wei, additional, Antunes, Edith M., additional, Ariffin, Wan Nur Syazana Wan Mohamad, additional, Aruta, John Jamir Benzon R., additional, Backe, Karen Herrero, additional, Backer, Lorraine C., additional, Badaruddin, Hishamuddin, additional, Belgrano, Andrea, additional, Benkendorff, Kirsten, additional, Bennett, Baylin, additional, Bennett, Nathan, additional, Berdalet, Elisa, additional, Beukes, Denzil R., additional, Bienfait, André Marcel, additional, Blackford, Krysten, additional, Botta, Robert D., additional, Bouley, Timothy A., additional, Bridge, Nicola L., additional, Britton, Easkey, additional, Broad, Kenneth, additional, Brooks, Bryan W., additional, Buchan, Pamela M., additional, Callwood, Karlisa, additional, Canonico, Gabrielle, additional, Carić, Hrvoje, additional, Carlarne, Cinnamon Piñon, additional, Caro-Diaz, Eduardo J.E., additional, Carreño, Arnau, additional, Carvalho, Matthew, additional, Champion, Curtis, additional, Chassignet, Eric P., additional, Chen, Celia, additional, Chinain, Mireille, additional, Coffey, Kara, additional, Coleman, Melinda A, additional, Colom, Imma, additional, Court, Christa, additional, Cowan, Emily, additional, Crummy, Aoife, additional, Cui, Lin, additional, Cunningham, Emily G., additional, Cunsolo, Ashlee, additional, Cutter, Jeffery, additional, Da Costa, Paulo Martins, additional, Dankel, Dorothy J., additional, Darius, H. Taiana, additional, Davies, Adesina David, additional, Depledge, Michael H., additional, DeTomaso, Anthony W., additional, Devine, Dympna, additional, Dumbili, E., additional, Dupont, Sam, additional, Ellefmo, Steinar Løve, additional, Elmore II, Brockway, additional, Enciso, Olga, additional, Estenik, John, additional, Fabro, Keith Anthony, additional, Falkenberg, Laura J, additional, Fielding, Russell, additional, Fleming, Lora E., additional, Foltz, Kathleen, additional, Fontdecaba, Eva, additional, Forbes, Vivian Louis, additional, Gajardo, Lea Janine A., additional, Gascons, Ramon, additional, Gaspers, Anne, additional, Gatti, Clémence M.I., additional, Gedoria, Gerlie, additional, Gerwick, William H., additional, Gin, Karina Yew-Hoong, additional, Giner, Francesc, additional, Gleason, Michelle E., additional, Goh, Hong Ching, additional, Goh, Shin Giek, additional, Gómez, Sílvia, additional, Gonzales, Benjamin J., additional, Gordon, Vanessa, additional, Gribble, Matthew O., additional, Ha, Nguyen Thu, additional, Hamdoun, Amro, additional, Hamzah, B.A., additional, Hansen, Dorte, additional, Hara, Jenevieve, additional, Hargraves, Joshua, additional, Harper, Sherilee, additional, Henderson, Lesley, additional, Hien, Vu Thuc, additional, Higley, Kathryn A., additional, Hixson, Richard, additional, Hollenbeck, Julie, additional, Izquierdo, Angel, additional, Jacquet, Jennifer, additional, Jahateh, Betty, additional, Jalover-Par, Cherry Lyn, additional, James, Rathunam Arthur, additional, Johari, Sofia, additional, Jong, Mui Choo, additional, Joyce, Patrick WS, additional, Jungwiwattanaporn, Megan, additional, Justine, Eva Vivian, additional, Kawabe, Larissa A., additional, Keast, Jake, additional, Kelsey, R. Heath, additional, Kieszak, Stephanie, additional, Kirkpatrick, Barbara, additional, Kjørholt, Anne Trine, additional, Koeneke, Roberto, additional, Koh, Han Fang, additional, Kuit, Sui Hyang, additional, Kustka, Stephen, additional, Lavery, Amy, additional, Lee, Kwai Han, additional, Li, Wenxuan, additional, Lin, Raymond Tzer Pin, additional, Lin, Yijun, additional, Lloret, Josep, additional, Lloveras, Montse, additional, Lohmann, Rainer, additional, Lopes, Natalia Pirani Ghilardi, additional, Macdonald, Catherine, additional, Machalaba, Catherine, additional, Madarcos, John Roderick V., additional, Madarcos, Karen Gabalez, additional, Maharja, Carya, additional, Manfredi, Juan Luis, additional, Marathe, Nachiket P., additional, Marshall, Jamie, additional, Mas, Lluïsa, additional, Mason, Robert, additional, Mathis, Jeremy, additional, Maycock, Bruce, additional, McKinney, Raiana, additional, Middleton, Jacqueline, additional, Mills, David Jonathan, additional, Mindan, Montse, additional, Minuto, Stefania, additional, Moore, Amelia, additional, Morris, George, additional, Mugau, Sharon Mansarah, additional, Muir, Derek, additional, Muthukumar, Krishnan, additional, Narchi, Nemer E., additional, Newmyer, Jillian, additional, Newton, John N., additional, Ng, Charmaine, additional, Nimje, Priyank S., additional, Nordmann, Patrice, additional, O’Halloran, Chris, additional, Oftebro, Thea Lurås, additional, Olugbemi, Peter Wusu, additional, OOi, Peng Lim, additional, Owoade, Folasade Mary, additional, Pahl, Sabine, additional, Patil, Bodhi, additional, Pita, Pablo, additional, Plana, Joan, additional, Poirel, Laurent, additional, Poo, Kelly, additional, Porter, Dwayne E., additional, Portsmouth, Linda, additional, Pouso, Sarai, additional, Praet, Estelle, additional, Praptiwi, Radisti A., additional, Pratt, Dawn O., additional, Rabbottini, Lauren, additional, Radisic, Vera, additional, Ramage, Dan W., additional, Raps, Hervé, additional, Reich, Andrew, additional, Richter, Isabel, additional, Roberts, Virginia A., additional, Roué, Mélanie, additional, Saine, Dawda Foday, additional, Sajorne, Recca E., additional, San, Joan, additional, Sandifer, Paul A., additional, Scanes, Elliot, additional, Schnall, Amy H., additional, Schofield, John, additional, Schwacke, Lori H., additional, Scott, Geoffrey I., additional, Shalders, Tanika C, additional, Simões, Roméo Rocha, additional, Solo-Gabriele, Helena, additional, Songco, Angelique M., additional, Sowman, Georgie J., additional, Stephan, Wendy Blair, additional, Stricker, Adam, additional, Stumpf, Richard P., additional, Sumaila, Ussif Rashid, additional, Tan, Lik Tong, additional, Tan, Shermin, additional, Taufek, Norhidayah Mohd, additional, Teicher, Sam, additional, Tester, Patricia A., additional, Thao, Le Ngoc, additional, Then, Amy Yee-Hui, additional, Thiel, Martin, additional, Tong, Xuneng, additional, Tow, Charlene, additional, Trainer, Vera, additional, Turra, Alexander, additional, Uyarra, María C., additional, Vendrell, Cristina, additional, Vert, Cristina, additional, Vigar, Marissa, additional, Vignesh, Sivanandham, additional, Villasante, Sebastian, additional, Voronkova, Anastasia, additional, Wester, Julia, additional, Wowk, Katya, additional, Wozniak, Esther, additional, Wulandari, Prawesti, additional, Wyles, Kayleigh J., additional, Yu, Pei Lin, additional, and Zhang, Yiwen, additional

Published
2023
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5. Harmful Algal Bloom Exposures Self-reported to Poison Centers in the United States, May–October 2019.

Author

Lavery, Amy M., Kieszak, Stephanie M., Law, Royal, Bronstein, Alvin C., Funk, Alexandra R., Banerji, Shireen, Brown, Kaitlyn, Sollee, Dawn R., and Backer, Lorraine C.

Subjects
POISONING, SELF-evaluation, PUBLIC health, POISON control centers, DESCRIPTIVE statistics, RESEARCH funding, ALGAE, ENVIRONMENTAL exposure
Abstract

The National Poison Data System (NPDS) comprises self-reported information from people who call US poison center hotlines. NPDS data have proven to be important in identifying emerging public health threats. We used NPDS to examine records of people who had self-reported exposure to harmful algal blooms (HABs). Participating poison centers then contacted people who had called their centers from May through October 2019 about their HAB exposure to ask about exposure route, symptoms, health care follow-up, and awareness of possible risks of exposure. Of 55 callers who agreed to participate, 47 (85%) reported exposure to HABs while swimming or bathing in HAB-contaminated water. Nine callers reported health symptoms from being near waters contaminated with HABs, suggesting potential exposure via aerosolized toxins. Symptoms varied by the reported routes of exposure; the most commonly reported symptoms were gastrointestinal and respiratory. More public and health care provider education and outreach are needed to improve the understanding of HAB-related risks, to address ways to prevent HAB-related illnesses, and to describe appropriate support when exposures occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2023
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6. Outbreaks Associated with Untreated Recreational Water — United States, 2000–2014

Author

Graciaa, Daniel S., Cope, Jennifer R., Roberts, Virginia A., Cikesh, Bryanna L., Kahler, Amy M., Vigar, Marissa, Hilborn, Elizabeth D., Wade, Timothy J., Backer, Lorraine C., Montgomery, Susan P., Secor, W. Evan, Hill, Vincent R., Beach, Michael J., Fullerton, Kathleen E., Yoder, Jonathan S., and Hlavsa, Michele C.

Published
2018

15. Evaluation of Syndromic Surveillance Data for Studying Harmful Algal Bloom-Associated Illnesses--United States, 2017-2019

Author

Lavery, Amy M., Backer, Lorraine C., Roberts, Virginia A., DeVies, Jourdan, and Daniel, Johnni

Subjects
United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- Analysis, Medical research -- Analysis -- Health aspects, Medicine, Experimental -- Analysis -- Health aspects, Health
Abstract

Harmful algal and cyanobacterial blooms (harmful algal blooms) are large colonies of algae or cyanobacteria that can harm humans, animals, and the environment (1-3). The number of algal blooms has [...]

Published
2021

16. Chapter 20 - Monitoring and measuring human health and well-being

Author

Backer, Lorraine C., Lavery, Amy, Solo-Gabriele, Helena, Schnall, Amy H., Roberts, Virginia A., Vigar, Marissa, Gleason, Michelle E., Kieszak, Stephanie, Estenik, John, Reich, Andrew, Court, Christa, Wowk, Katya, Stephan, Wendy Blair, Kirkpatrick, Barbara, Trainer, Vera, Stumpf, Richard P., Coffey, Kara, Koeneke, Roberto, and Botta, Robert D.

Published
2023
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26. Traditional and molecular analyses for fecal indicator bacteria in non-point source subtropical recreational marine waters

Author

Sinigalliano, Christopher D., Fleisher, Jay M., Gidley, Maribeth L., Solo-Gabriele, Helena M., Shibata, Tomoyuki, Plano, Lisa R.W., Elmir, Samir M., Wanless, David, Bartkowiak, Jakub, Boiteau, Rene, Withum, Kelly, Abdelzaher, Amir M., He, Guoqing, Ortega, Cristina, Zhu, Xiaofang, Wright, Mary E., Kish, Jonathan, Hollenbeck, Julie, Scott, Troy, Backer, Lorraine C., and Fleming, Lora E.

Published
2010
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30. Machine Learning Models of Arsenic in Private Wells Throughout the Conterminous United States As a Tool for Exposure Assessment in Human Health Studies

Author

Lombard, Melissa A., primary, Bryan, Molly Scannell, additional, Jones, Daniel K., additional, Bulka, Catherine, additional, Bradley, Paul M., additional, Backer, Lorraine C., additional, Focazio, Michael J., additional, Silverman, Debra T., additional, Toccalino, Patricia, additional, Argos, Maria, additional, Gribble, Matthew O., additional, and Ayotte, Joseph D., additional

Published
2021
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31. Human Health and Ocean Pollution

Author

Landrigan, Philip J., primary, Stegeman, John J., additional, Fleming, Lora E., additional, Allemand, Denis, additional, Anderson, Donald M., additional, Backer, Lorraine C., additional, Brucker-Davis, Françoise, additional, Chevalier, Nicolas, additional, Corra, Lilian, additional, Czerucka, Dorota, additional, Bottein, Marie-Yasmine Dechraoui, additional, Demeneix, Barbara, additional, Depledge, Michael, additional, Deheyn, Dimitri D., additional, Dorman, Charles J., additional, Fénichel, Patrick, additional, Fisher, Samantha, additional, Gaill, Françoise, additional, Galgani, François, additional, Gaze, William H., additional, Giuliano, Laura, additional, Grandjean, Philippe, additional, Hahn, Mark E., additional, Hamdoun, Amro, additional, Hess, Philipp, additional, Judson, Bret, additional, Laborde, Amalia, additional, McGlade, Jacqueline, additional, Mu, Jenna, additional, Mustapha, Adetoun, additional, Neira, Maria, additional, Noble, Rachel T., additional, Pedrotti, Maria Luiza, additional, Reddy, Christopher, additional, Rocklöv, Joacim, additional, Scharler, Ursula M., additional, Shanmugam, Hariharan, additional, Taghian, Gabriella, additional, Van de Water, Jeroen A. J. M., additional, Vezzulli, Luigi, additional, Weihe, Pál, additional, Zeka, Ariana, additional, Raps, Hervé, additional, and Rampal, Patrick, additional

Published
2020
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36. Contributors

Author

Alkaitis, Matthew S., primary, Backer, Lorraine C., additional, Blackmore, Carina, additional, Ceilley, Roger I., additional, Conti, Lisa A., additional, Currier, Russell W., additional, DuVernoy, Tracy, additional, Fleming, Lora E., additional, Hollender, Elena, additional, Johnson, Rebecca A., additional, Kahn, Laura H., additional, Kaplan, Bruce, additional, Mainzer, Hugh M., additional, Mitchell, Clifford S., additional, Mobo, Ben Hur P., additional, Monath, Thomas P., additional, Odofin, Lynda U., additional, Rabinowitz, Natasha, additional, Rabinowitz, Peter M., additional, Reinero, Carol Norris, additional, Sparer, Judy, additional, Taiwo, Oyebode A., additional, and Zaias, Julia, additional

Published
2010
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40. The BEACHES Study: health effects and exposures from non-point source microbial contaminants in subtropical recreational marine waters

Author

Fleisher, Jay M, Fleming, Lora E, Solo-Gabriele, Helena M, Kish, Jonathan K, Sinigalliano, Christopher D, Plano, Lisa, Elmir, Samir M, Wang, John D, Withum, Kelly, Shibata, Tomoyuki, Gidley, Maribeth L, Abdelzaher, Amir, He, Guoqing, Ortega, Cristina, Zhu, Xiaofang, Wright, Mary, Hollenbeck, Julie, and Backer, Lorraine C

Published
2010
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44. HABs causing aerosol and/or direct contact toxicity: gained knowledge and open questions

Author

Berdalet, Elisa, Fleming, Lora E., Lemée, Rodolphe, Burford, Michele A., and Backer, Lorraine C.

Abstract

The 18th International Conference on Harmful Algae (ICHA), From ecosystems to socio-ecosystems, 21-26 October 2018, Nantes, France.-- 1 page, Human respiratory irritation associated with HABs was first documented by Taylor (1917) during his observations of Karenia brevis (formerly Gymnodinium breve) blooms in the west coast of Florida, also causing massive fish mortalities. Later, Woodcock (1948) provided the first evidences of the link between respiratory symptoms and aerosolized compounds produced by the dinoflagellate. In the last 30 years, concerted well-funded interdisciplinary and multi-agency research has been intensively conducted to understand K. brevis blooms (also know as Florida red tides) dynamics, and the exposure and health effects of aerosolized toxins (brevetoxins). Advances include early warning systems monitoring the presence of Karenia brevis and its bloom dynamics (combining in situ sampling, autonomous vehicles, remote sensing), a detailed knowledge on the involved toxins (mainly brevetoxins PbTx-2 and PbTx-3 in both water and aerosols) and their mode of action, the relevance of meteorology factors in the transport of aerosolized toxins, and a better understanding of the human exposures and health effects. At the same time, substantial work has gone into prevention of this exposure and health effects including community and expert education, beach warnings and involving Poison Control Centers. In the last 20 years, a new environmental and human health threat seems to be emerging in temperate latitudes, and specially in Mediterranean coasts. Blooms of the marine benthic dinoflagellate genus Ostreopsis are linked to cutaneous and/or respiratory problems on beach goers and people that work or inhabit in areas where this species thrives, and were in contact with benthic or planktonic toxic cells and/or exposed for certain hours to aerosols. Although the impacts are mild by now, alarm has been raised because this species produces palytoxins (PLTX) and analogues, being PLTX potent biotoxins associated to fatal seafood borne intoxications in the tropics. Whether those toxins are at the origin of cutaneous and respiratory health problems is still unknown. Before Ostreopsis could constitute a bigger problem, multidisciplinary investigation has been and it is conducted nowadays by different research teams and a communication network has been implemented with environmental and public health authorities in the affected countries. In this presentation we will compare the available information about the harmful benthic (Ostreopsis spp.) and planktonic (Karenia brevis) blooms, with the aim of identifying gaps in knowledge and further steps to progress and design appropriate human health prevention plans. Analogous comparison will also be done concerning freshwater toxic cyanobacteria blooms causing cutaneous and respiratory irritative symptoms

Published
2018

45. Outbreaks Associated with Untreated Recreational Water — United States, 2000–2014

Author

Graciaa, Daniel S., primary, Cope, Jennifer R., additional, Roberts, Virginia A., additional, Cikesh, Bryanna L., additional, Kahler, Amy M., additional, Vigar, Marissa, additional, Hilborn, Elizabeth D., additional, Wade, Timothy J., additional, Backer, Lorraine C., additional, Montgomery, Susan P., additional, Evan Secor, W., additional, Hill, Vincent R., additional, Beach, Michael J., additional, Fullerton, Kathleen E., additional, Yoder, Jonathan S., additional, and Hlavsa, Michele C., additional

Published
2018
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46. Nitrates in drinking water and methemoglobin levels in pregnancy: a longitudinal study

Author

Luke Barbara, Fleming Lora E, Messing Rita, Backer Lorraine C, Manassaram Deana M, and Monteilh Carolyn P

Subjects
Industrial medicine. Industrial hygiene, RC963-969, Public aspects of medicine, RA1-1270
Abstract

Abstract Background Private water systems are more likely to have nitrate levels above the maximum contaminant level (MCL). Pregnant women are considered vulnerable to the effects of exposure to high levels of nitrates in drinking water due to their altered physiological states. The level of methemoglobin in the blood is the biomarker often used in research for assessing exposure to nitrates. The objective of this study was to assess methemoglobin levels and examine how various factors affected methemoglobin levels during pregnancy. We also examined whether differences in water use practices existed among pregnant women based on household drinking water source of private vs. public supply. Methods A longitudinal study of 357 pregnant women was conducted. Longitudinal regression models were used to examine changes and predictors of the change in methemoglobin levels over the period of gestation. Results Pregnant women showed a decrease in methemoglobin levels with increasing gestation although Conclusion Pregnant women potentially exposed to nitrate levels primarily below the MCL for drinking water were unlikely to show methemoglobin levels above the physiologic normal. Water use practices such as the use of treatment devices to remove nitrates varied according to water source and should be considered in the assessment of exposure to nitrates in future studies.

Published
2010
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47. Epidemiology of recreational exposure to freshwater cyanobacteria – an international prospective cohort study

Author

Burns John W, Fleming Lora E, Schluter Philip J, Webb Penelope M, Stewart Ian, Gantar Miroslav, Backer Lorraine C, and Shaw Glen R

Subjects
Public aspects of medicine, RA1-1270
Abstract

Abstract Background Case studies and anecdotal reports have documented a range of acute illnesses associated with exposure to cyanobacteria and their toxins in recreational waters. The epidemiological data to date are limited; we sought to improve on the design of some previously conducted studies in order to facilitate revision and refinement of guidelines for exposure to cyanobacteria in recreational waters. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the incidence of acute symptoms in individuals exposed, through recreational activities, to low (cell surface area 2/mL), medium (2.4–12.0 mm2/mL) and high (>12.0 mm2/mL) levels of cyanobacteria in lakes and rivers in southeast Queensland, the central coast area of New South Wales, and northeast and central Florida. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed; models adjusted for region, age, smoking, prior history of asthma, hay fever or skin disease (eczema or dermatitis) and clustering by household. Results Of individuals approached, 3,595 met the eligibility criteria, 3,193 (89%) agreed to participate and 1,331 (37%) completed both the questionnaire and follow-up interview. Respiratory symptoms were 2.1 (95%CI: 1.1–4.0) times more likely to be reported by subjects exposed to high levels of cyanobacteria than by those exposed to low levels. Similarly, when grouping all reported symptoms, individuals exposed to high levels of cyanobacteria were 1.7 (95%CI: 1.0–2.8) times more likely to report symptoms than their low-level cyanobacteria-exposed counterparts. Conclusion A significant increase in reporting of minor self-limiting symptoms, particularly respiratory symptoms, was associated with exposure to higher levels of cyanobacteria of mixed genera. We suggest that exposure to cyanobacteria based on total cell surface area above 12 mm2/mL could result in increased incidence of symptoms. The potential for severe, life-threatening cyanobacteria-related illness is likely to be greater in recreational waters that have significant levels of cyanobacterial toxins, so future epidemiological investigations should be directed towards recreational exposure to cyanotoxins.

Published
2006
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48. Ecological public health, Harmful Algal Blooms and Climate Change

Author

Fleming, Lora E., Backer, Lorraine C., Berdalet, Elisa, Barciela, Rosa, Friedman, Melissa A., Baden, Daniel, Morris, George, Nichols, Gordon, Davidson, Keith, and Lintott, Lucinda

Abstract

17th International Conference on Harmful Algae (ICHA), 9-14 October 2016, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.-- 1 page, Lang and Rayner's concept of "Ecological Public Health" attempts to integrate the material, biological, social, and cultural aspects of public health. Furthermore, this perspective has broadened in scope from the local, regional and national to encompass a more planetary view of the interactions between the health of the environment and humans. These concepts and challenges can be illustrated in the complex interactions between Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), climate change, and human health. HABs have existed for millennia, impacting on human health usually through exposure to the HAB biotoxins bio-accumulated and transmitted through the food chain. More recently, with increasing direct and indirect anthropogenic pressures and drivers, HAB occurrence could expand temporally and geographically. The future trends of HABs are unclear in a world of climate and other environmental change, yet the potential risk of exposure and health impacts for humans and other organisms makes this an urgent area for research. In particular, given the historically narrow focus of public health with regards to both HABs and climate change, a new approach is needed. Taking an ecological public health approach would mean greater integration and collaboration not only between different scientific disciplines, but also between the different groups and entities involved in all aspects of HABs. Recent examples of these kinds of efforts can be seen with collaborations around Ciguatera, Florida red tide, the One Health Harmful Algal Bloom System (OHHABS), Ostreopsis, and the recently launched GlobalHAB Programme. Ecological public health provides both an opportunity and a challenge for seeking a more truly interdisciplinary collaboration and a wider vision of the interconnections between HABs, climate change, human behavior, and the future health of both humans and the planet

Published
2016

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