
Barbara KirkpatrickMote Marine Laboratory · Department of Environmental Health
Barbara Kirkpatrick
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Introduction
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Publications
Publications (64)
Nearly all annual blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis (K. brevis) pose a serious threat to coastal Southwest Florida. These blooms discolor water, kill fish and marine mammals, contaminate shellfish, cause mild to severe respiratory irritation, and discourage tourism and recreational activities, leading to significant health and econo...
In the Gulf of Mexico, especially along the southwest Florida coast, blooms of the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis are a coastal natural hazard. The organism produces a potent class of toxins, known as brevetoxins, which are released following cell lysis into ocean or estuarine waters or, upon aerosolization, into the atmosphere. When exposed to suff...
Blooms of the toxic microalga Karenia brevis occur seasonally in Florida, Texas and other portions of the Gulf of Mexico. Brevetoxins produced during Karenia blooms can cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning in humans, massive fish kills, and the death of marine mammals and birds. Brevetoxin-containing aerosols are an additional problem, having a sev...
Shell Exploration & Production Company is working with academic, non-profit, and federal stakeholders in the Gulf of Mexico to develop and implement long term environmental offshore monitoring programs. One such program uses autonomous underwater gliders to collect near real-time oceanographic data for enhancing the understanding of the offshore ph...
Shell Exploration & Production Company is working with academic, non-profit, and federal stakeholders in the Gulf of Mexico to develop and implement long term environmental monitoring programs. One such program uses autonomous underwater gliders to collect near real-time oceanographic data for enhancing the understanding of the offshore physical en...
This study investigated newspaper coverage of Florida red tide blooms in four
metropolitan areas of Southwest Florida during a 25-year period, 1987–2012. We
focused on how journalists framed red tide stories with respect to environmental
risk, health risk, and economic risk. We determined risk to be a key factor in this
news coverage, being an aspe...
During a decade of building the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS), there has been convincing evidence that an integrated "system of systems" is an effective, efficient system that provides many societal benefits, including economic development opportunities. The Gulf community has come a long way toward establishing a regional o...
Presentation on the GCOOS Build-out Plan and Marine Mammals to the Marine Mammal Research and Monitoring Workshop, April 7-8, 2015, New Orleans
To mitigate the damages of natural hazards, policy responses can be beneficial only if they are effective. Using a self-administered survey approach, this paper focuses on the adherence to local fertilizer ordinances (i.e., county or municipal rules regulating the application of fertilizer to private lawns or facilities such as golf courses) implem...
Harmful algal blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, occur throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Recent research efforts sponsored by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and others found that Florida red tide causes both acute and possibly chronic health effects from the toxic aerosols. Florida red tide also demons...
Introduction One of the central themes in media effects studies is the agenda-setting role of mass media, which argues that the mass media impact heavily on the dominant issues being discussed in the public agenda. Furthermore, scholars have argued over media's framing effects, which draws attention to how particular news coverage attributes domina...
Background/Question/Methods
The broader impacts portion of the CHANS grant: Collaborative Research: Modeling the Dynamics of Harmful Algal Blooms, Human Communities, and Policy Choices along the Florida Gulf Coast includes two innovative components for reaching out to and educating high school students. Our research team collaborated in the desig...
Florida red tide blooms, which can last many months, pose environmental health risks to individuals. Aerosolized neurotoxins produced by the algae can cause respiratory distress, especially among asthmatics. Ingestion of toxins through contaminated shellfish causes neurotoxic shellfish poisoning. The goal of our research is to collect information r...
Background: Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are accumulations of certain species of marine or freshwater algae that produce natural toxins that may cause morbidity and mortality in exposed animals and humans. In the eastern Gulf of Mexico, Karenia brevis (also known as Florida red tide) is the most common marine HAB. A possible but unproven cause of co...
The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System is being designed to be an end-to Dend, integrated, sustained, operational System of Systems that provides data, information and products to benefit a broad range of stakeholders in their decision-making. These design concepts form the basis of pilot projects being undertaken by the Gulf of Mexico Coastal...
Over the years, numerous outreach strategies by the science community, such as FAQ cards and website information, have been used to explain blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis that occur annually off the west coast of Florida to the impacted communities. Many state and federal agencies have turned to funded research groups for assist...
Introduction: In previous studies, we demonstrated statistically significant changes in pulmonary function testing (PFTs) and reported symptoms for asthmatics before and after 1 hour at the beach with exposure to brevetoxins in Florida red tide (Karenia brevis bloom) aerosols. In this study, we explored the possible longer term health effects over...
For years red tide has plagued the West coast of Florida. Researchers and physicians in the region heard anecdotal reports of coastal residents and tourists suffering from respiratory illnesses believed to be the result of exposure to the toxin, even though sufferers were not directly exposed to red tide through fish and shellfish consumption or re...
Issues: Communicating science to the public, clearly and effectively, is challenging. It requires an understanding of science and the scientific process, as well as the ability to convey that research to the scientific community, students, policy makers, and the public, in an understandable manner. Now consider how difficult it is to communicate a...
Having demonstrated significant and persistent adverse changes in pulmonary function for asthmatics after 1 hour exposure to brevetoxins in Florida red tide (Karenia brevis bloom) aerosols, we assessed the possible longer term health effects in asthmatics from intermittent environmental exposure to brevetoxins over 7 years. 125 asthmatic subjects w...
To enhance information sharing and garner increased support from the public for scientific research, funding agencies now typically require that research groups receiving support convey their work to stakeholders. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) funded Aerosolized Florida Red Tide P01 research group (Florida Red Tide...
Blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, produce potent neurotoxins in marine aerosols. Recent studies have demonstrated acute changes in both symptoms and pulmonary function in asthmatics after only 1 h of beach exposure to these aerosols. This study investigated if there were latent and/or sustained effects in asthmatics in the days fo...
This paper reviews the literature describing research performed over the past decade on the known and possible exposures and human health effects associated with Florida red tides. These harmful algal blooms are caused by the dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, and similar organisms, all of which produce a suite of natural toxins known as brevetoxins....
The west coast of Florida has annual blooms of the toxin-producing dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis with Sarasota, FL considered the epicenter for these blooms. Numerous outreach materials, including Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) cards, exhibits for local museums and aquaria, public beach signs, and numerous websites have been developed to dissemin...
Florida red tides occur annually in the Gulf of Mexico from blooms of the marine dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, which produces highly potent natural polyether toxins, brevetoxins. Several epidemiologic studies have demonstrated that human exposure to red tide aerosol could result in increased respiratory symptoms. Environmental monitoring of aeros...
The marine dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, is responsible for Florida red tides. Brevetoxins, the neurotoxins produced by K. brevis blooms, can cause fish kills, contaminate shellfish, and lead to respiratory illness in humans. Although several studies have assessed different economic impacts from Florida red tide blooms, no studies to date have co...
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 c...
Human exposure to brevetoxins during Florida red tide blooms formed by Karenia brevis has been documented to cause acute gastrointestinal, neurologic, and respiratory health effects. Traditionally, the routes of brevetoxin exposure have been through the consumption of contaminated bivalve shellfish and the inhalation of contaminated aerosols. Howev...
Communicating science to the public in a clear and effective manner is challenging. Now consider how
difficult it is to attempt to communicate a complex scientific topic that is also a potential threat to human
and animal health and rife with controversy, and political and economic implications. That scenario
describes the intrinsic difficulty in h...
The toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis forms harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the Gulf of Mexico. The toxins produced by K. brevis cause massive fish kills, contaminate bivalves such as clams and oysters, and produce toxic aerosols. These HABs result in closure of commercial seafood production, disruption of recreational fishing enterprises, and des...
The toxic aerosols from the blooms of Florida red tide, Karenia brevis, cause respiratory irritation in healthy beachgoers and can trigger reactive airway responses in asthmatics. Two strategies have been developed and maintained to inform the public about these toxic aerosols and their human health effects. The Beach Conditions Reporting System pr...
Algal blooms of Karenia brevis, a harmful marine algae, occur almost annually off the west coast of Florida. At high concentrations, K. brevis blooms can cause harm through the release of potent toxins, known as brevetoxins, to the atmosphere. Epidemiologic studies suggest that aerosolized brevetoxins are linked to respiratory illnesses in humans....
We conducted a study of recreational exposure to microcystins among 81 children and adults planning recreational activities on either of three California reservoirs, two with significant, ongoing blooms of toxin-producing cyanobacteria, including Microcystis aeruginosa (Bloom Lakes), and one without a toxin-producing algal bloom (Control Lake). We...
In previous studies we demonstrated statistically significant changes in reported symptoms for lifeguards, general beach goers, and persons with asthma, as well as statistically significant changes in pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in asthmatics, after exposure to brevetoxins in Florida red tide (Karenia brevis bloom) aerosols.
In this study we ex...
Background: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) occur throughout the world with Florida having the distinction of being home to all major toxin-producing marine, estuarine and freshwater microalgae. The subtropical warm climate, 1200 miles of coastline, varied aquatic habitats and the human interface through seafood consumption and from water activities co...
This research integrates theoretical frameworks of risk perception, social amplification of risk, and the role of place-specific contexts in order to explore the various perceptions surrounding Florida red tides. Florida red tides are naturally occurring events that are increasing in frequency, duration, and severity. This has implications for publ...
An operational forecast system for harmful algal blooms (HABs) in southwest Florida is analyzed for forecasting skill. The HABs, caused by the toxic dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, lead to shellfish toxicity and to respiratory irritation. In addition to predicting new blooms and their extent, HAB forecasts are made twice weekly during a bloom event...
With over 50% of the US population living in coastal counties, the ocean and coastal environments have substantial impacts on coastal communities. While many of the impacts are positive, such as tourism and recreation opportunities, there are also negative impacts, such as exposure to harmful algal blooms (HABs) and water borne pathogens. Recent ad...
We measured microcystins in blood from people at risk for swallowing water or inhaling spray while swimming, water skiing, jet skiing, or boating during an algal bloom. We monitored water samples from a small lake as a Microcystis aeruginosa bloom developed. We recruited 97 people planning recreational activities in that lake and seven others who v...
With an apparent increase of harmful algal blooms (HABs) worldwide,healthcare providers, public health personnel and coastal managers are struggling toprovide scientifically-based appropriately-targeted HAB outreach and education. Since1998, the Florida Poison Information Center-Miami, with its 24 hour/365 day/year freeAquatic Toxins Hotline (1-888...
Florida red tides are naturally occurring blooms of the marine dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis. K. brevis produces natural toxins called brevetoxins. The brevetoxins become part of the marine aerosol as the fragile, unarmored cells are broken up by wave action. Inhalation of the aerosolized toxin results in upper and lower airway irritation. Symptom...
Florida red tides occur annually in the Gulf of Mexico as blooms of marine dinoflagellates, Karenia brevis. K. brevis produces highly potent natural polyether toxins, brevetoxins, which cause bronchoconstriction in experimental animals. In prior studies, people with asthma had increased respiratory symptoms and deceased pulmonary function after wal...
Florida red tides are naturally occurring blooms of the marine dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis. K. brevis produces natural toxins called brevetoxins. Brevetoxins become part of the marine aerosol as the fragile, unarmored cells are broken up by wave action. Inhalation of the aerosolized toxin results in upper and lower airway irritation. Symptoms of...
Toxic blooms of cyanobacteria are ubiquitous in both freshwater and brackish water sources throughout the world. One class of cyanobacterial toxins, called microcystins, is cyclic peptides. In addition to ingestion and dermal, inhalation is a likely route of human exposure. A significant increase in reporting of minor symptoms, particularly respira...
With the increasing incidence of asthma, there is increasing concern over environmental exposures that may trigger asthma exacerbations. Blooms of the marine microalgae, Karenia brevis, cause red tides (or harmful algal blooms) annually throughout the Gulf of Mexico. K brevis produces highly potent natural polyether toxins, called brevetoxins, whic...
Human exposure to Florida red tides formed by Karenia brevis, occurs from eating contaminated shellfish and inhaling aerosolized brevetoxins. Recent studies have documented acute symptom changes and pulmonary function responses after inhalation of the toxic aerosols, particularly among asthmatics. These findings suggest that there are increases in...
The toxic dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, produces a suite of polyether neurotoxins (brevetoxins, PbTx) that cause massive fish kills and neurotoxic shellfish poisoning. A unique characteristic of K. brevis blooms is the associated airborne (aerosolized) toxin component causing respiratory irritation to humans and other mammals. This study was unde...
Red tides in the Gulf of Mexico are commonly formed by the fish-killing dinoflagellate Karenia brevis, which produces nine potent polyether brevetoxins (PbTxs). Brevetoxins can be transferred from water to air in wind-powered white-capped waves. Inhalation exposure to marine aerosol containing brevetoxins causes respiratory symptoms. We describe de...
Karenia brevis (formerly Gymnodinium breve) is a marine dinoflagellate responsible for red tides that form in the Gulf of Mexico. K. brevis produces brevetoxins, the potent toxins that cause neurotoxic shellfish poisoning. There is also limited information describing human health effects from environmental exposures to brevetoxins. Our objective wa...
Florida red tides annually occur in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting from blooms of the marine dinoflagellate Karenia brevis. K. brevis produces highly potent natural polyether toxins, known as brevetoxins, that activate voltage-sensitive sodium channels. In experimental animals, brevetoxins cause significant bronchoconstriction. A study of persons wh...
Florida red tides are a natural phenomenon caused by dense aggregations of single cell or several species of unicellular organisms. Patches of discolored water, dead or dying fish, and respiratory irritants in the air often characterize these algal blooms. In humans, two distinct clinical entities, depending on the route of exposure, are associated...
Very little has been published in the scientific literature on the human health effects of Florida red tide, either as human clinical case reports or formal epidemiologic studies. In addition to the health effects associated with the ingestion of contaminated shellfish, there have been multiple anecdotal reports of respiratory irritation and possib...
The potential interactions between marine and freshwater harmful algal blooms (HABs) and humans are increasing. Humans are exposed through food, drinking water, and recreational and occupational water use to an increasing number of organisms and their toxins. Nevertheless, the amount of clinical and epidemiologic research concerning acute and chron...
Sarasota County enacted an ordinance banning the application of either nitrogen or phosphorus containing fertilizers during the rainy season in the fall of 2007, with the major concern the County ordinance hoped to address being nonpoint source pollution into the watershed (Sarasota Co. Ord. 2007-062). Since this time, 46 other cities and counties...