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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Andrew Reich, MS, MSPH¹, Lorraine C. Backer, PhD, MPH², Barbara Kirkpatrick, EdD, RRT³, Richard P. Stumpf, PhD⁴, Lora E. Fleming, MD, PhD⁵, Wendy Stephan, MPH⁵, Richard S. Weisman, PharmD, ABAT⁶, Eva Jerez, BS⁶, Cindy Heil, PhD⁷, Karen Steidinger, PhD⁷, Jan Landsberg, PhD⁷, John Conner⁸, JoEllen DeThomasis, MPH¹, and Daniel Baden, PhD⁹. (1) Florida Department of Health, Aquatic Toxins Program, 4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin A08, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1712, 850.245.4444 x 2295, andy_reich@doh.state.fl.us, (2) National Center for Environmental Health, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Studies Branch, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, MS F-46, Chamblee, GA 30341, (3) Mote Marine Laboratory, Environmental Health Program, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236, (4) Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment NOAA, National Ocean Service, 1305 East-West Highway, N/SCI1, Silver Spring, MD 20910, (5) Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine - NIOSH Research Group, 1801 NW 9th Avenue, Rm 208-B, Highland Professional Building, Miami, FL 33136, (6) Florida Poison Information Center - Miami, University of Miami, School of Medicine, P.O. Box 016960 (R-131), Miami, FL 33101, (7) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 100 Eighth Avenue SE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701-5095, (8) Solutions to Avoid Red Tide (START), 7336 Chelsea Court, University Park, FL 34201, (9) Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, 5600 Marvin Moss Lane, Wilmington, NC 28409

Florida red tides occur annually in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting from blooms of the marine dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, which produces highly potent natural neurotoxins, brevetoxins. These toxins cause massive fish kills, neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP), and a respiratory syndrome (particularly in asthmatics). The public health challenge to provide timely preventive information for Florida's dynamic resident and tourist populations about Florida red tide and its toxins.

In a unique collaboration, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH), the US Centers for Disease Control, and its public and private partners have established a linked network of public health information coupled with exposure and disease surveillance on Florida red tide. NOAA and the Florida Wildlife Research Institute produce weekly reports of red tide location based on remote sensing and water monitoring. This exposure information is linked to the South Florida Poison Information Center Aquatic Toxins toll free Hotline (888 232 8635) which provides 24 hour/day health information in multiple languages; the Center also reports cases to FDOH as part of on-going harmful algal bloom surveillance. Mote Marine Laboratory and the University of Miami have ongoing research studies to better define human health effects from Florida red tide. Finally, FDOH (http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/aquatic/index.html) and the grassroots organization, START (http://www.start1.com), have developed beach signage, museum displays, information cards, and a traveling exhibit to advertise this up-to-date information to Florida's tourists and residents.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify 5 types of institutions that collaborate to inform the public of Florida red tide conditions and potential for health impacts;
• Articulate the process for the developing consistent message on red tide and public health;
• Recognize various target audiences and challanges for reaching high-risk groups

Keywords: Environmental Health Hazards, Community Outreach

Related Web page: dohswebeh0001/environment_dev/community/aquatic/index.html

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation