Quantifying the public health impacts of Karenia brevis (Florida red tide) algae bloom exposure along Florida's Gulf Coast.

Summary: Have you ever heard of the Florida red tide? It happens when a certain type of algae grows out of control in the ocean. This algae releases toxins into the air and water. Scientists wanted to know if living near the beach during a red tide makes people sick. They looked at health records for people living on Florida's west coast. They found that when the red tide is bad, slightly more people go to the doctor for breathing and stomach problems. The risk is even higher when the wind blows from the ocean toward the land. Stopping these algae blooms could help keep people healthy!