Characterization of red tide aerosols

描述（摘自研究者摘要）佛罗里达红色时间，由甲藻Gymatrium breve产生，几乎每年发生一次，并对经济和健康产生不利影响。人们暴露于含有气溶胶G。短杆菌引起眼睛、鼻子和喉咙的刺激，以及某些个体的支气管收缩。Brevetoxins（polyetherebreve toxins; PbTxs）是由G.短纤维素是观察到的刺激性和呼吸作用的原因。目前还没有关于人类接触赤潮气溶胶的系统性研究，将气溶胶接触特征与不良症状的发生率和严重程度联系起来。本研究的总体目标是：1）表征环境G.短海喷雾气溶胶，以帮助在人体呼吸道沉积的剂量评估; 2）表征实验室产生的G。简要介绍气溶胶，以阐明气溶胶形成和运输的机制，并深入了解环境变化的程度和产品; 3）与流行病学研究（项目4）密切合作，评估预测时间事件期间个人的职业和娱乐暴露，以提供暴露浓度-反应关系。从这些研究中获得的信息将有助于评估与重复吸入红色时间气溶胶相关的人类风险。

Description (Taken from the Investigator's Abstract) The Florida red time, produced by the dinoflagellate Gymnodinium breve, occurs almost annually and has adverse economic and health effects. Exposure of people to sea spray containing aerosolized G. breve causes irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, as well as bronchoconstriction in some individuals. Brevetoxins (polyether breve toxins; PbTxs), produced by G. breve are responsible for the irritant and respiratory effects observed. There have been no systemic studies on human exposure to red tide aerosols correlating aerosol exposure characteristics with the incidence and severity of adverse symptoms. The overall objectives of the proposed study are to: 1) characterize the physical and chemical properties of environmental G. breve- containing sea spray aerosols to aid in dosimetric evaluations of human respiratory tract deposition; 2) characterize the physical and chemical properties of laboratory-generated G. breve aerosols to elucidate mechanisms of aerosol formation and transport, and give insight into the extent and products of environmental transformation; and, 3) assess personal occupational and recreational exposure of individual during pred time events in close collaboration with epidemiological studies (Project 4) to provide exposure concentration-response relationships. Information grained from these studies will aid in evaluations of human risk associated with repeated inhalation of red time aerosols.