Researchers from Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida Atlantic University are studying the possible human health impacts caused by airborne toxins produced by Blue-Green Algae through a study called 'Cyanotoxins in Air Study' or CAST.
FGCU researchers are focusing on collecting the air sampling data, and researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s College of Nursing and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute are working on the human health side of the study.
They’ve been collecting air samples here in southwest Florida and across the state in Stuart, and are asking volunteers who live near the water to provide blood, urine, and nasal samples. There hasn’t been a major blue-green algae bloom for a few years so right now they’re collecting baseline data.
One of those researchers is Dr. Mike Parsons, he is Professor of Marine Science at Florida Gulf Coast University, and Director of FGCU’s Vester Field Station. He joins us via Zoom from the Vester Field Station.
You can learn more about the Cyanotoxins in Air Study (CAST) here.
You can learn more about becoming a volunteer here.
