LEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Sarasota-based Roskamp is looking to give Sanibel islanders the opportunity to participate in a four-year study examining the health effects of aerosolized brevetoxin exposure from red tide.
Roskamp’s research, in partnership with the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) explores whether a common genetic factor, the apolipoprotein E allele, makes certain people more vulnerable to the effects of red tide. The effects include itchy eyes, coughing or a scratchy throat during a red tide bloom.
“Partnering with SCCF once again for this critical red tide study allows us to build on a strong foundation of research and community engagement,” said Laila Abdullah, Ph.D., a Roskamp scientist leading the study. “It is important to test participants both during blooms and outside of blooms so that we can see the differences.”…