Florida 'Red Tides' Can Irritate Asthmatics

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The researchers found that walking on the beach for an hour created no statistically significant difference in lung function or on asthma symptoms if there was no red tide.

However, during the time of the red tide, the volunteers were more likely to report experiencing respiratory symptoms and had a small, but statistically significant, drop in lung function. Fleming said the decrease in lung function was slightly more than 10 percent.

"The bottom line is, we don't think this will put someone in the hospital, but one hour makes a measurable difference in lung function," said Fleming.

The researchers don't know for sure what it is about the red tide that causes this reaction in people with asthma. It may act as an irritant or as an allergen. In people without asthma, the red tides often seem to cause watery eyes and nose and a cough.

"This study showed significant effects a very short time after exposure," said Dr. Jonathan Field, director of the asthma and allergy clinic at New York University Medical Center/Bellevue. "People need to be aware of the potential risk in that area if you're thinking of vacationing or relocating there."

More troubling, he said, may be the bigger picture. "These findings are worrisome for coastal areas and beyond. Is this an emerging type of biological allergen associated with global warming?" Field asked.

More information

You can check to see if there's currently a harmful algae bloom (red tide) occurring by visiting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.