Environmental Effects Of Red Tide

The idea of an ocean’s surface with a red hue may seem like a very amazing phenomena but in fact it's quite the opposite. Red tides are becoming more and more harmful to not just the sea life it's consumes but to us humans as well. When we use pesticides and other man made chemicals, we are washing them away without a care of what happens next. In doing so, they are eventually ending up back into our oceans and cause these harmful algal blooms, known as Red Tide. Most of these algal blooms are toxic, causing death to marine life around it, making it unsafe to eat, and causing pollution in the air we breath.
How do these algal bloom begin to form in the first place? In gaining an a better understand we have to remember that aquatic ecosystems
are delicate and must be maintained by a balance of nutrients. Aquatic ecosystems with too few nutrients in the water are considered Oligotrophic. Aquatic ecosystems with too many nutrients are called Eutrophic. The majority of the time, human activity can be the leading cause of Eutrophication. Which is the result of excess nutrients finding their way into the water, often from fertilizers that are used on farms or lawns. However, toxins can also include wastewater and stormwater runoff. When these contaminations enters the water, combined with harsh sunlight and warm temperatures, algae blooms begin to form. Algae are photosynthetic microorganisms that love to absorb runoff nutrients. An algae bloom occurs when nutrient pollution and sunlight create a fast growing and an increase in the density of the algae. When an algae bloom does occur, it creates a thick blanket on the surface of the infected body of water. Often times, green in appearance, because of the presence of cyanobacteria. The blanket of algae block the sunlight from reaching the water underneath the surface. Which can greatly impact the lives of the organism who inhabit the body of water. While algae is very much an important part of our aquatic ecosystems, an abundance of it can lead to some pretty harmful effects. Many of the animals below the surface, need oxygen from the air above. When sunlight is unable to reach the water,(blocked by the algal bloom) photosynthesis is unable to occur, which it how many organisms get the oxygen they need to live. When they are unable to get the oxygen they need, the organisms literally suffocate under the water. When they die, the oxygen is further decreased in the water. Why? Because the dead animals sink to the floor of the water and are broken down by microbes. These microbes use up the little remaining oxygen they have in order to do their work. If the oxygen becomes low enough, the water becomes Hypoxic. A hypoxic body of water would result in a dead zone occurrence. In a more specific type of Algal Bloom known as red tide, we see the appearance of a reddish hue as the water is being taken over. This occurs when the water becomes Hypoxic and as the plankton in the surrounding water float up to the surface, the water appears red because the plankton themselves have a red coloring. In order to better understand just how harmful it can be, we have take a look at our food chain and what we are doing wrong in disposing waste and pesticides. First and Foremost, we know that algae plays a vital role in the ecosystem of marine life. They are the main food source for all sorts of species. However in recent years, we are seeing that they can occasionally cause harm. A phenomena known as red tide or harmful algal blooms occur when colonies of certain types or algae grow out of control. Often times this is caused by man made chemicals washing into our oceans. When affected, certain types of algae produce toxins that enter the food chain though many different types of fish and shellfish. As they are broken down by microbes or consumed by smaller fish, larger marine life eat those affected fish and often grow ill. This can kill larger animals like sea lions, dolphins, turtles, manatees, and many others. It also makes fish and shellfish unsafe for human consumption. On the other hand, Blooms do not have to produce toxin to be harmful. They can deplete oxygen from the water, block light to organisms lower in the water, and can even clog or harm fish gills.
Exposure for humans can include ingestion, inhalation and topical.
In the past, before much was known about red tide and still some times today, surfers have reported surfing and have come out of the water with swollen lips and eyes. Humans can often feel effects of Red tide as soon as they get out of their car at the beach. The harmful bacteria can strike within that first smell of ocean air. Many times, people dismiss the signs way too quickly, however, because they are so subtle in the average person. A simple cough or dizzy spell could be signs of bacteria in the air brought on by Red Tide. For people with respiratory diseases, such as asthma, the trigger signs can cause more discomfort. Causing people to have an asthma attack or worse. Most of the time, the treatment can be as simple as moving away from the affected area and treating symptoms systematically until they resolve. Some other symptoms can include runny nose, dry cough, itching or burning in the throat, and tearing in the eyes. Symptoms for asthmatic people can include wheezing, tightening of the chest and shortness of breath. In the water, the main concern is people who have sensitive skin because they are likely to contract a rash. For those who love playing in the sand, can they be affected? Yes, when the foam from the water comes up to the sand, you can be affected because the foam can be about ten times more toxic than the water itself. While the signs might be worse in people with respiratory problems than other people, it is possible for it to be deadly for all human types depending on the type and how long they were exposed to Red Tide. That being said, suppose you consume shellfish with toxins, these can cause more serious gastrointestinal problems during digestion with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. However, most commercial fishing companies test for toxins so it's less likely for people to consume it if they buy from a commercial catcher. If, however, you fish on your own, you could be
exposed to it if there was a bloom in the area.