Residents near Lake Erie are well-acquainted with advice regarding blue-green algae blooms. Cautionary measures include refraining from swimming in the water, keeping pets away, and avoiding ingestion. Exposure to these blooms may lead to adverse effects like skin irritation, sore throat, or eye irritation. However, there is a lesser-known risk of exposure through airborne particles, separate from direct contact with the water.
A study led by David Kennedy, a professor at the University of Toledo and head of the Great Lakes Center for Freshwater and Human Health, is examining the impact of airborne algae toxins on human health. Over the past two and a half years, researchers have been investigating how these toxins affect individuals when inhaled. The study, known as the Great Lakes Aerosol Monitoring Research Study (GLAMR), is still ongoing and aims to understand the health implications of these toxins on people residing, working, or recreating in the western basin of Lake Erie.
Kennedy emphasized the importance of identifying individuals who may be more vulnerable to these toxins and the varied responses observed among participants. The study has enrolled approximately 200 individuals, representing 75% of the target participants. Researchers are collecting samples and monitoring participants’ health during and outside peak bloom seasons to ascertain the potential health risks associated with airborne algae exposure.
Experts involved in the study highlight the significance of understanding the long-term health effects of inhaling algae toxins, which can be trapped in bubbles and dispersed in the air. Gregory Dick, the director of the Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research at the University of Michigan, explained how these toxins can spread through the air, similar to aerosolized viruses, posing health risks to individuals in coastal communities. The study aims to determine the duration and extent of airborne toxins’ presence, especially around Lake Erie’s flat terrain, where pollutants can travel long distances.
Andrew Ault, a chemistry professor at the University of Michigan, stressed the sensitivity of the lungs to airborne toxins compared to ingested ones, underscoring the need to better understand the risks associated with breathing in algae toxins. The study seeks to provide communities with insights into air quality hazards, potentially guiding individuals on precautions to safeguard their health based on environmental conditions.