Education and Outreach Materials for Aquatic Toxins

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Bureau of Community Public Health Medicine

BUREAU PROGRAMS

Educational Materials

The role of the Aquatic Toxins Disease Prevention Program is to prevent and reduce illness. One of the important ways we do this is by providing accurate information to residents and visitors, local health departments, the medical community and other interested people. With this information, people can make informed and healthy choices about their recreational activities and seafood consumption.

The following documents have information on the types of illnesses people may experience if they come into contact with a harmful algal bloom or toxin.

REPORTS

picture of the HABs technical guide. Link opens in a new window HABs Technical Guide (6 MB pdf )

Resource Guide for Public Health Response to Harmful Algal Blooms in Florida: This guide is the product of a collaboration between Florida Department of Health, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and other federal, state and local partners. It describes the current science of Harmful Algal Blooms in Florida, ways in which public health response can be done, and contact information. A more complete description of its contents are listed on page 7 of the PDF.

A review of the current state of Cyanobacterial science can be found in Proceedings of Health Effects of Exposure to Cyanobacteria Toxins: State of the Science- August 13-14, 2002

POSTERS

Thumb nail image of the Eat Puffer and You May Suffer poster. Link opens in a new window Eat Puffer and You May Suffer poster (435 KB pdf )

Eat Puffer and You May Suffer: In Florida, certain puffer fish contain a chemical called saxitoxin. When this toxin accumulates in shellfish, people may get a rare illness called Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning. This can also happen when people eat contaminated puffer fish from the Indian River Lagoon area. This poster describes the organism that produces the toxin, types of puffers contaminated, and how to protect yourself.

Thumb nail image of the Ciguatera Fish Poisoning poster. Link opens in a new window Ciguatera Fish Poisoning poster (847 KB pdf )

Ciguatera Fish Poisoning Poster: Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP) is the most frequently reported marine poisoning world-wide. Exposures occur through ingesting seafood, especially large tropical carnivorous finfish. In Florida, CFP cases occur each year especially in South Florida. This poster describes the algae that produce the toxin, types of fish affected, and how to protect yourself from getting sick.

Thumb nail image of the Beware of Ciguatera poster. Link opens in a new window Beware of Ciquatera poster (158 KB pdf )

Beware of Ciguatera Outreach Poster: This poster describes the types of fish which can transmit ciguatera, a useful communication tool for sport fishermen, restaurants, and the public.

Thumb nail image of the Red Tide poster. Link opens in a new window Red Tide poster (572 KB pdf )

Red Tide Poster: Red Tide in Florida is caused by the algae, Karenia brevis. At times, this marine algae can produce toxins. When people eat contaminated shellfish, they can get an illness called Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning. People can also get sick from breathing in salt spray during a red tide. This poster describes the organism that produces the red tide toxin and how to protect yourself and your family.

Thumb nail image of the Poster Have You Been Slimed?. Link opens in a new window

Have You Been Slimed Poster-Contact with blue-green algae or Cyanobacteria can make you sick (1.55 MB pdf )

Have You Been Slimed Poster: In Florida, the climate and water bodies provide many opportunities for blue green algae or cyanobacteria to occur and persist in the environment. Over 46 species are known to release toxins. This poster describes the organisms that produce toxins and how to protect yourself from unwanted exposures.