Indian River Lagoon Toxic Algal Blooms Threaten Human Health, Florida Research Warns

Toxic algal bloom in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) can exacerbate due to warming temperatures. According to recent studies, the bloom can have health and environmental impacts.

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) can bring significant toxins that can affect people's food. When the algae emerge more, the bloom will become more noticeable in freshwater or the sea. In the US, coastal waters and lakes suffer from threats of HABs.

The seasonal temperatures and warming events provide favorable conditions for algal blooms. CDC warns that exposure to said toxins or bacteria can make wildlife or humans sick.

Algal Bloom in the US: How Does It Affect Americans' Health?

As a result, researchers at the Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute observed the possible bloom hazards at the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), especially the freshwater cyanobacterium (Microcystis aeruginosa).

The IRL has three significant lagoons: the Indian River, Mosquito Lagoon, and the Banana River. The area is abundant in different species, from birds, fishes and other aquatic animals.

With the samples from the lagoon, the researchers analyzed the possible toxins that can be dangerous to human health. The research findings were published in the Toxins journal, which studied the phytoplankton bloom events.

However, the increasing blooms in the lagoon have been a significant problem due to the effects of seasonal temperatures. In the research findings, they found the following observations:

The lagoon's northern sites were less toxic than the South.
Northern sites of the lagoon experienced the most phytoplankton bloom events.

Communities experiencing an algal bloom should be extra careful, and avoid the ingestion of harmful toxins. People can suffer from skin irritation and stomach problems when they become exposed to the bloom.

The New York Department of State and Department of Health confirmed that blue-green algae can result in the following:

Throat irritation
Allergic Reaction
Vomiting
Diarrhea

Pet owners should not let their pets ingest or get close to areas with toxic algal bloom. With the nutrient pollution, blooms can likely exacerbate.

Florida Hotter Surface Temperatures

Florida is no stranger to hotter surface temperatures. In the recent NWN report, researchers warned of the environmental impact on the coral reef system in the oceans and seas.

When experts observed the coral reef underwater, they discovered that some of them turned white due to rising temperatures. Extreme heat and prolonged exposure can have a devastating impact on the marine animals that depend on coral reefs.

2023 is now confirmed as the hottest year on record exacerbated by climate change, El Nino and global warming.