Kirkpatrick Barbara, Pierce Richard, Cheng Yung Sung, Henry Michael S, Blum Patricia, Osborn Shannon, Nierenberg Kate, Pederson Bradley A, Fleming Lora E, Reich Andrew, Naar Jerome, Kirkpatrick Gary, Backer Lorraine C, Baden Daniel
Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, 34236.
Harmful Algae. 2010 Feb 1;9(2):186-189. doi: 10.1016/j.hal.2009.09.003.
Florida red tides, an annual event off the west coast of Florida, are caused by the toxic dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis. K. brevis produces a suite of potent neurotoxins, brevetoxins, which kill fish, sea birds, and marine mammals, as well as sickening humans who consume contaminated shellfish. These toxins become part of the marine aerosol, and can also be inhaled by humans and other animals. Recent studies have demonstrated a significant increase in symptoms and decrease lung function in asthmatics after only one hour of beach exposure during an onshore Florida red tide bloom.This study constructed a transect line placing high volume air samplers to measure brevetoxins at sites beginning at the beach, moving approximately 6.4 km inland. One non-exposure and 2 exposure studies, each of 5 days duration, were conducted. No toxins were measured in the air during the non-exposure period. During the 2 exposure periods, the amount of brevetoxins varied considerably by site and by date. Nevertheless, brevetoxins were measured at least 4.2 kilometers from the beach and/or 1.6 km from the coastal shoreline. Therefore, populations sensitive to brevetoxins (such as asthmatics) need to know that leaving the beach may not discontinue their environmental exposure to brevetoxin aerosols.
佛罗里达赤潮是佛罗里达州西海岸每年都会出现的现象，由有毒的双鞭毛藻——短裸甲藻引起。短裸甲藻会产生一系列强效神经毒素——短裸甲藻毒素，这些毒素会杀死鱼类、海鸟和海洋哺乳动物，还会使食用受污染贝类的人患病。这些毒素会成为海洋气溶胶的一部分，也会被人类和其他动物吸入。最近的研究表明，在佛罗里达赤潮向岸爆发期间，哮喘患者在海滩暴露仅一小时后，症状就会显著增加，肺功能也会下降。本研究构建了一条样带线，在从海滩开始、向内陆延伸约6.4公里的地点放置大容量空气采样器来测量短裸甲藻毒素。进行了一项非暴露研究和两项暴露研究，每项研究持续5天。在非暴露期间，空气中未检测到毒素。在两个暴露期间，短裸甲藻毒素的含量因地点和日期而有很大差异。然而，在距离海滩至少4.2公里和/或距离海岸海岸线1.6公里处检测到了短裸甲藻毒素。因此，对短裸甲藻毒素敏感的人群（如哮喘患者）需要知道，离开海滩可能无法停止其对短裸甲藻毒素气溶胶的环境暴露。
