Research Symposium

BIO

Annelise Driscoll is a freshman biology major in the Honors College at Florida State University. She is on a pre-veterinary track.

Investigating the Impacts of Red Tide on Public Health Within the Gulf of America: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Red tide, a form of harmful algal bloom (HAB) is a prevalent natural phenomenon along Florida's Gulf Coast. While the exact causes of red tide are universally understood and backed by science, clinical manifestations due to brevetoxin exposure are much less studied. This study's purpose is to address these gaps in knowledge in order to gain a greater understanding of red tide and its public health impacts, specifically how the proximity and concentration of HABs impact human health outcomes, including respiratory health and gastrointestinal distress. In conducting a meta-analysis along the West Florida Shelf (WFS), we analyzed 62 peer reviewed articles dated from 2006-2025 and screened by keywords such as "HAB" and "red tide." Through using non-identifying patient data, we hope to correlate bloom-induced healthcare visits to the HAB blooms. By reviewing previously published studies and collecting clinical data, we aim to clear any gray area between scientific and medical hemispheres in HAB research. While we are yet to obtain any findings, a positive correlation between red tide bloom intensity and decreased public health is predicted. This would highlight the significance of red tide as an environmental hazard and promote future public health advisories.

Keywords: Red tide, Gulf of America, Karenia brevis, respiratory effects