フロリダの湾岸付近に発生する藻類には毒性が確認されており、今年の発生エリアは海水浴を楽しむビーチにまで及んでしまいました。
"Algae blooms also a threat to human health"
Man-made pollution isn't the only thing to worry about at the beach. Add harmful algae blooms to the list.
While most algae are harmless to humans some species of these microscopic organisms concern scientists and researchers.
One of the most dangerous is the algae known as Karenia brevis, which multiplies rapidly under certain conditions to create a noxious kill zone - known as "red tide" - capable of suffocating fish and poisoning people.
Red tide algae usually sticks to Florida's Gulf Coast, where scientists and local health officials aggressively monitor it. But last year, it caught a ride on the Gulf Stream and turned up off Delaware's popular Atlantic beaches.
That was farther north than it had traveled before and its arrival fueled speculation that such harmful blooms are increasing in frequency and range.
"Most scientists who have looked at this will agree we're seeing more and they are getting worse," said Larry Brand, a University of Miami marine biologist who has studied red tide extensively.
The federal government provides grants to states that monitor beach water for evidence of fecal contamination, but it is up to states to decide whether to monitor for algae.
Harmful algal blooms have occurred along all coastal and Great Lakes states over the last decade, according to a 2007 federal report.
In 2005, the toxic organism Alexandrium fundyense forced the closure of New England shellfish beds. It was the most intense bloom since 1972. Eating shellfish meat contaminated with the organism's neuromuscular toxin can cause Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning.
That same year in Florida, the biggest Karenia brevis bloom since the 1970s caused massive fish kills, manatee deaths and widespread reports of respiratory complaints from residents and beachgoers.
In Texas, the brown tide organism Aureoumbra lagunensis grew so abundant from 1990 through 1998 in Laguna Madre, more than 2,000 acres of beneficial shoal grass were lost in the longest documented harmful algal bloom in U.S. history.
On the Pacific Coast, high levels of domoic acid, the algal toxin that causes Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning in humans, closed the important razor clam fishery in Washington during the 2002-2003 season. The toxins also closed the commercial Dungeness crab fishery for the first time since 1991.
William Winkler, 60, an environmental activist and business owner in Delaware, believes he and other swimmers were sickened by the Karenia toxin last year. He said state officials should be more aggressive in identifying the algae and notifying beachgoers.
"In July, I was on the beach gasping for breath, and my girlfriend thought I was having a heart attack," said Winkler who owns a nautical shop in Ocean View, Del. "I was upset when I found out Karenia brevis was here."
Delaware officials have increased monitoring and public reporting efforts regarding harmful algal blooms this year.
"Algae blooms also a threat to human health"Man-made pollution isn't the only thing to worry about at the beach. Add harmful algae blooms to the list.
While most algae are harmless to humans some species of these microscopic organisms concern scientists and researchers.
One of the most dangerous is the algae known as Karenia brevis, which multiplies rapidly under certain conditions to create a noxious kill zone - known as "red tide" - capable of suffocating fish and poisoning people.
Red tide algae usually sticks to Florida's Gulf Coast, where scientists and local health officials aggressively monitor it. But last year, it caught a ride on the Gulf Stream and turned up off Delaware's popular Atlantic beaches.
That was farther north than it had traveled before and its arrival fueled speculation that such harmful blooms are increasing in frequency and range.
"Most scientists who have looked at this will agree we're seeing more and they are getting worse," said Larry Brand, a University of Miami marine biologist who has studied red tide extensively.
The federal government provides grants to states that monitor beach water for evidence of fecal contamination, but it is up to states to decide whether to monitor for algae.
Harmful algal blooms have occurred along all coastal and Great Lakes states over the last decade, according to a 2007 federal report.
In 2005, the toxic organism Alexandrium fundyense forced the closure of New England shellfish beds. It was the most intense bloom since 1972. Eating shellfish meat contaminated with the organism's neuromuscular toxin can cause Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning.
That same year in Florida, the biggest Karenia brevis bloom since the 1970s caused massive fish kills, manatee deaths and widespread reports of respiratory complaints from residents and beachgoers.
In Texas, the brown tide organism Aureoumbra lagunensis grew so abundant from 1990 through 1998 in Laguna Madre, more than 2,000 acres of beneficial shoal grass were lost in the longest documented harmful algal bloom in U.S. history.
On the Pacific Coast, high levels of domoic acid, the algal toxin that causes Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning in humans, closed the important razor clam fishery in Washington during the 2002-2003 season. The toxins also closed the commercial Dungeness crab fishery for the first time since 1991.
William Winkler, 60, an environmental activist and business owner in Delaware, believes he and other swimmers were sickened by the Karenia toxin last year. He said state officials should be more aggressive in identifying the algae and notifying beachgoers.
"In July, I was on the beach gasping for breath, and my girlfriend thought I was having a heart attack," said Winkler who owns a nautical shop in Ocean View, Del. "I was upset when I found out Karenia brevis was here."
Delaware officials have increased monitoring and public reporting efforts regarding harmful algal blooms this year.