Harmful algal blooms must be treated to save ecosystems

Every year around this time, as temperatures rise across the country, we see more reports of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in coastal areas from Florida to California. HABs are overgrowths of algae that feed on high levels of nutrients in the water and produce toxins harmful to aquatic life, animals, and humans. They wreak havoc on ecosystems and leave behind a trail of odors, scum, foam, and toxins, forcing local governments to close beaches and limit any recreational activities near affected areas. Toxins produced by HABs pose a serious health risk to people, from rashes, fevers, and kidney damage to neurodegenerative diseases like ALS in extreme cases linked to chronic exposure. Dense areas of HABs lead to dead zones, where sunlight and oxygen levels are so low that aquatic life can't survive. The largest dead zone in the U.S., spanning over 6,500 square miles, is located in the Gulf of Mexico, which provides billions of dollars a year to commercial and recreational fishing industries and produces over 40% of the nation's seafood supply. The economic toll from algal blooms throughout the U.S. is substantial, costing an estimated $4.6 billion annually.

While we mostly see HABs occur during the summer months, environmental changes are making HABs emerge more frequently throughout the year. We’re also seeing more severe occurrences of HABs, including in areas like Florida's Gulf Coast which is home to the nation's most infamous "red tides" that regularly kill fish and release harmful toxins in the air. Blue-green algae blooms are traditionally the most toxic and found in rivers, freshwater lakes, ponds, and marine water, leading to health alerts throughout the country that require people to stay away from the water for their own safety.

To date, treating HABs has been a complicated issue. The most commonly used methods of treating HABs, including chemical applications that rely on the use of copper sulfate, are temporary and can potentially cause more harm than the blooms themselves. Nanobubble technology, which is used across a variety of different applications, including mineral extraction and wastewater treatment, is now being used to help treat and prevent HABs. Deploying nanobubbles, which are 2,500 times smaller than a grain of salt, into affected bodies of water can eliminate harmful bacteria and algae and break down organic contaminants on an ongoing basis without the use of harsh chemicals. Nanobubble technology company Moleaer announced a research collaboration with The Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), funded by Florida's Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), to study the impact of nanobubble technology on HABs plaguing the Pahokee Marina on Lake Okeechobee, Florida. According to the Florida Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force, in 2017, an algal bloom on the Lake expanded into a major red tide event that ultimately resulted in estimated total losses of nearly $1 billion in revenue for the state and an additional loss of $178 million in tax revenue in 23 Gulf coast counties.

To date, the red tide organism Karenia brevis (K. brevis) has been detected in 47 samples collected from Southwest Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Red Tide Mid-Week Update for May 3, 2023. Also known as "Florida red tides," K. brevis is one of the most well-known harmful algal blooms species in Florida and produces brevetoxins that can kill fish, birds and other marine animals. According to the FWC, people who consume shellfish contaminated with brevetoxins can suffer Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning, which causes symptoms like abdominal pain, vomiting and progressive paresthesia.

While testing continues, nanobubbles are already showing great promise and could potentially be used on a larger scale to treat more widespread formations of blooms. As HABs become more common, nanobubble technology could be the missing key to help save entire ecosystems and keep people, animals, and aquatic life safe.

Based in Port Charlotte, Todd Olson is a former certified lake manager with 32 years of experience in the surface water industry and currently works for Moleaer.

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