Red tide study comes to Pine Island

Red tide is easing its grip around Southwest Florida.

The latest map shows low to medium levels in Pine Island Sound, around Bonita Springs, Naples, and as far south as off the coast of Everglades City.

We know that red tide is a nuisance to our senses, from watery eyes to that tickle in your throat. But researchers at a brain institute in Sarasota want to know the long-term impact red tide has on our bodies, and their study is gaining momentum.

“There’s a really big interest in this study,” said Dr. Michael Mullan, executive director of the Roskamp Institute.

It’s a study that could give us much-needed answers about the impact of red tide on humans, and it just landed on Pine Island.

“It’s way overdue and it’s really a blessing that they’re doing this,” said Scott Wilkinson of Bokeelia. He volunteered for the study and said he’s happy to do it.

“Some people have red eyes, runny nose, coughs, but the actual damage that red tide does to people is completely invisible and often over a long period of time,” Wilkinson said.

Mullan said researchers are interviewing volunteers while taking blood and urine samples.

“We’re interested in the question of whether there are any real long-term relationships between being exposed to red tide, in particular the toxin that comes with red tide brevetoxin, and neurological complaints.”

This research started in the summer of 2019.

“It looks as if some people have a big increase in antibodies against the toxin, whereas others don’t. And this is in situations where the toxin is long gone,” Mullan said.

That offers a clue into how people’s immune systems respond differently to red tide.

The Roskamp Institute will be in Naples on March 20 to continue its study, and there’s still time to sign up if you’d like to take part. Just call David Patterson at 941-256-8019 ext. 3088.