Hi guys - apparently the west coast is now affected farther south as well; also NC and Texas. Incidentally, no matter what this says, there are a number of species of harmful algae which should be avoided when blooms are present. They aren't necessarily called "red tide", and they may not be red. Date: Sun, 17 Oct 1999 17:14:21 -0400 (EDT) From: ProMED <promed_at_promed.isid.harvard.edu> Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Red tide alert - USA (Florida): new RED TIDE ALERT - USA (FLORIDA): NEW ***************************** A ProMED post <http://www.healthnet.org/programs/promed.html> Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 From: Chan Yow Cheong mailto:chanyowcheong_at_pacific.net.sg ProMED Regional Moderator for Asia & "Marjorie P. Pollack" <pollackmp_at_mindspring.com> Source: Reuters ex Yahoo! News, 13 Oct 1999 [edited] http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19991013/ts/environment_tide_1.html Potentially toxic red tide is affecting 3 separate areas on Florida's east and west coasts for the first known time, marine biologists said Wednesday. This is the most widespread red tide that we have record of Florida experiencing,'' Leigh Wallace, a spokeswoman for the Florida Marine Research Institute, said. Fish killed by the algae behind the phenomenon have washed up on the west coast. The outbreak has also forced authorities to close shellfish beds to prevent the harvesting of contaminated oysters and clams. Airborne toxins from the outbreak have kept people from beaches while leaving others with irritated eyes and throats. Red tide irritates the skin of people exposed to it and can cause itchy eyes, scratchy throats and coughs. Researchers say there are now blooms off Florida's west coast near Sarasota, off the far western panhandle and near Jacksonville on the east coast. The blooms have reached parts of Texas and North Carolina. It is the first time since state officials began tracking red tide in 1972 that they have documented 3 simultaneous blooms. Red tide is caused by an organism called _Gymnodinium breve_ that in high concentration can make the water look red. The organism releases a toxin that paralyzes the respiratory system of fish and other marine life. In 1996 a severe outbreak killed 149 manatees on Florida's southwest coast. Elaine Harmon - eilidh_at_dc.seflin.org - eharmon_at_cs.miami.edu *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Sun Oct 17 1999 - 17:19:12 PDT
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