South Carolina Task on Group ToxicAlgae VOLUME 1, NUMBER 1 SPRING 1998 State task group studies Pfiesteria
In recent years, the toxic organism years. Nevertheless, there have been only during blooms when massive Pfiesteria piscicida has been linked to no known fish kills or human health numbers of these algae are present. fish kills and lesions and human health effects in South Carolina due to Blooms are probably stimulated by impacts in several coastal rivers in Pfiesteria, which seems to favor large increases of nutrients in coastal some mid-Atlantic states. In 1991, shallow, poorly flushed, brackish waters. Finally, Pfiesteria has not been Pfiesteria was waters. Pfiesteria has not been found linked to any known seafood The toxic implicated in numerous in the open ocean or near beaches or poisonings. organism fish kills in North in lakes. The organism is a After outbreaks of Pfiesteria in Pfiesteria Carolina. In 1995, dinoflagellate protozoan, not a mid-Atlantic states last fall, a South piscicida officials closed a bacterium. Pfiesteria causes problems Carolina Task Group on Toxic Algae has not been section of the lower Continued on back linked to Neuse River after fish any known kills involving millions seafood of menhaden (a Some toxic algae cause thousands poisonings. commercially important fish in the of seafood poisonings worldwide herring family). And in 1997, officials closed sections of three rivers that One evening in 1990, eight fishermen were treated with flow into the Chesapeake Bay after fishermen in a boat on Georges respiratory therapy to maintain similar fish kills and human health Bank, 100 miles east of Cape Cod, their breathing and prevent effects. sat down to a meal of steamed suffocation from lung paralysis. All Researchers at the University of mussels that they’d incidentally recovered, and within a few weeks Maryland and Johns Hopkins caught in their nets. Sometime they were back fishing. University issued a preliminary report during the meal, the boat captain, The poisoning was apparently noting that people heavily exposed to who had come into the galley late, caused by a huge bloom of the Pfiesteria-infested waters in rivers suddenly noticed that his men toxic alga Alexandrium in Georges draining into Chesapeake Bay were behaving strangely. They had Bank, which was later closed to suffered skin disorders, respiratory been poisoned by a toxin in the shellfish harvesting. irritation, learning disorders, memory shellfish, causing neurological This incident is just one example loss and confusion. symptoms including numbness, of thousands of annual poisonings Although publicity about Pfiesteria incoherent speech, and respiratory by toxic algae in seafood has been widespread, there have been paralysis. worldwide. Such poisonings are a number of misconceptions about Although the captain had eaten apparently increasing along with this microscopic organism. fewer mussels than his men, he interstate and international Pfiesteria and other toxic also fell ill. Yet he managed to send shipping of seafood. International dinoflagellates have been discovered an emergency radio message to travel has exploded as well, with in South Carolina estuarine waters, the U.S. Coast Guard, which greater numbers eating seafood in but scientists were not surprised to airlifted the fishermen to the exotic places. find it here. Pfiesteria is an ancient hospital on Nantucket Island. The life form that has probably existed in Continued on back South Carolina waters for millions of
S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, Extension Program, Communications • S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, Bureau of Water, Bureau of Preventive Health Services, Ocean and Coastal Resources Management, Emergency Response Team • University of South Carolina, Belle W. Baruch Institute, Marine Science Program • S.C. Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources Division • NOAA/NOS/Charleston Laboratory • Clemson University • Medical University of South Carolina, Marine Biomedical Program, School of Medicine • Charleston VA Medical Center Continued from TASK GROUP Continued from SEAFOOD POISONINGS was organized. Scientists, physicians, state and federal resource officials, Of 4,400 marine algae species, without toxic algal blooms communications staff and extension only 50 to 60 are toxic, but affecting human health or seafood. personnel began discussing methods scientists continue to find new Since 1978, illnesses in the of establishing state-wide monitoring harmful species. In recent years, United States due to natural algal of both estuarine waters and people aquaculture in marine toxins include paralytic shellfish working in these environments has increased poisoning, neurotoxic shellfish Pfiesteria is areas. The task dramatically, along with increased poisoning, ciguatera fish poisoning, an ancient group is also monitoring of cultured seafood and and amnesic shellfish poisoning. life form that developing a coastal waters. This closer Gastrointestinal disorders, has probably coordinated state monitoring has revealed toxic respiratory difficulty, memory loss, existed in strategy to cope algae that probably always existed, and, in rare cases, death can be South Carolina with the possible experts say. caused by consumption of shellfish waters for consequences of a Nonetheless, the intensity and or fish contaminated by toxic millions of years. Pfiesteria bloom in distribution of toxic algal blooms algae. It should be noted, however, South Carolina seem to be growing worldwide, that the toxic microbe Pfiesteria waters if it should occur here. perhaps partly due to excess piscicida, which has received Partners in the task group include nutrients in coastal waters from extensive publicity in recent years, the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, S.C. agriculture, aquaculture, has not been linked to any seafood Department of Health and stormwater runoff, atmospheric poisonings. In addition, Environmental Control, University of pollutants, water- treatment plants government monitoring of coastal South Carolina, S.C. Department of and other sources. Toxic blooms, waters for toxic algae has Natural Resources, National Oceanic moreover, have affected fish and dramatically reduced the risk of and Atmospheric Administration shellfish in nearly every U.S. consuming shellfish tainted by Charleston Laboratory, Clemson coastal state. South Carolina is toxic algae, experts say. University, Medical University of among just a few U.S. states South Carolina, and Charleston South Carolina VA Medical is among just Center. Scientists a few U.S. states and physicians that have not Web sites on Pfiesteria: at some of these experienced major institutions are toxic blooms. S.C. Department of Environmental Control: now engaged in
South Carolina Task on Group ToxicAlgae