Abstract:
This investigation was undertaken to characterize health effects associated with a major bloom of blue-green algae due to the proliferation Microcystis aeruginosa that occurred in Florida in 2018. Cyanobacteria produce multiple toxins, including the potent hepatotoxic microcystins (MCs), that have been reported to cause illness in exposed persons worldwide. Widespread exposure to toxins released by blue-green algae during the 2018 bloom was shown by the presence of MCs in the nasal passages of 95 percent of the individuals studied previously in south Florida (Schaefer et al., 2020). The current analyses were conducted to determine whether self-reported symptoms were associated with activity patterns, direct contact with water, residential, recreational, and occupational exposure. The 125 persons who participated in the initial study reported an average of 4.94 (± 4.87) symptoms. Those reported most commonly included rhinorrhea, sneezing, headache, sore throat and dry cough. Respiratory symptoms were reported by 74%, ocular symptoms by 62%, and gastrointestinal symptoms by 35% of respondents. Residential and recreational exposures were associated with increased risks of respiratory, gastrointestinal, or ocular symptoms in univariate and adjusted multivariable analyses. Residential exposure was significantly associated with increased reporting of dry cough (p = 0.03), dyspnea (p < 0.01) and wheezy respirations (p = 0.04). Among persons reporting gastrointestinal symptoms, nausea (p = 0.02) and abdominal pain (p < 0.01) were significantly associated with residential exposure. Recreational exposure was significantly associated with sore throat and eye irritation. The findings add to the evidence that exposure to cyanobacteria at concentrations encountered during an algal bloom is associated with a diverse array of symptoms and that inhalation of aerosols constitutes an important exposure pathway.
摘要:
进行这项调查是为了表征与2018年在佛罗里达州发生的铜绿微囊藻增殖引起的蓝绿藻大量繁殖相关的健康影响。蓝细菌产生多种毒素,包括有效的肝毒性微囊藻毒素(MC),据报道,在全世界范围内的暴露者中导致疾病。在2018年开花期间,蓝绿藻释放的毒素的广泛暴露表现在先前在南佛罗里达州研究的95%的个体的鼻腔通道中存在MC(Schaefer等人。,2020)。进行当前分析以确定自我报告的症状是否与活动模式有关,与水直接接触,住宅,休闲娱乐,和职业暴露。参与初始研究的125人报告了平均4.94(±4.87)的症状。最常见的报告包括鼻漏,打喷嚏,头痛,喉咙痛和干咳.74%的人报告了呼吸道症状,眼部症状减少62%,和胃肠道症状的35%的受访者。住宅和娱乐场所暴露与呼吸风险增加有关,胃肠,单变量和调整后的多变量分析中的眼部症状。住宅暴露与干咳报告的增加显着相关(p=0.03),呼吸困难(p<0.01)和喘息呼吸(p=0.04)。在报告胃肠道症状的人中,恶心(p=0.02)和腹痛(p<0.01)与居住暴露显著相关.娱乐性暴露与喉咙痛和眼睛刺激显着相关。这些发现增加了证据,表明在藻华期间遇到的浓度暴露于蓝藻与各种症状有关,并且吸入气溶胶构成了重要的暴露途径。