BMAA, which is the short form of the toxin β-methylamino-L-alanine was not found in Florida by the Arizona researcher, but was “…found in every one of 945 analyses done over five months by Calusa Waterkeeper volunteers and analyzed at Wyoming’s Brain Chemistry Labs.
So yes, indeed, Florida has one more reason to fix its water. This is spite of Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis, who have done almost nothing to to fix it except spend money on things which don’t fix it. And the failed BMAPs which are not the solution.
The Tampa Bay Times does not provide a link to this article, published June 21, 2022, and our allotment of free articles in TCPalm has reached its limit.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
Research shows link between toxic algae, Lou Gehrig’s disease
New findings bolster understanding that long-term exposure to toxic algae can put human health at risk
Max Chesnes
Treasure Coast Newspapers USA TODAY NETWORK – FLORIDA
There’s a “strong association” between a toxin found in some algae blooms and Lou Gehrig’s disease, which affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, according to the lead author of a recent research analysis.
Arizona State University researchers analyzed 258 scientific papers and found evidence linking the toxin BMAA and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a paper published recently in the journal Science of the Total Environment.
BMAA can be produced in low concentrations by some species of cyanobacteria, more commonly called “bluegreen algae,” which plagues the Treasure Coast.
There’s enough epidemiological evidence to conclude BMAA can cause ALS, the researchers say. “Exposure of these strains over time increases the risk of developing ALS,” lead author Melanie Newell wrote in a prepared statement.
One Florida algae scientist, though, says he’s been unable to find the toxin in nearly 80 water samples he’s taken over the past three years. And more clinical research is needed to confirm the link between BMAA and ALS, he said.
Still, as Florida’s summer rainy season begins, bringing with it the possibility of algae blooms, this latest research could strengthen the science behind what’s been generally understood for years: Longterm exposure to toxic algae can affect human health.
“Our epidemiologic assessment of the literature researching the association between BMAA exposure and ALS suggest there is reason to be concerned about prolonged exposure to cyanobacterial strains that produce BMAA,” Newell said.
How toxic algae affects Floridians
Though BMAA is a concern, Floridians should be more concerned about other toxins found in cyanobacteria, according to an algae scientist at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Three neurotoxins in cyanobacteria that can affect the brain — anatoxin-a, guanitoxin and saxitoxin — are spreadable through the air, said Barry Rosen, who has spent three years looking for BMAA in algae samples across Florida. Those aren’t known to cause ALS, but can create a disconnect between muscles and nerves.
“I have been unable to find any BMAA in any culture or samples from Florida,” including Lake Okeechobee, the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers, Lake Trafford in Collier County and even a few out-of-state waterways, Rosen said.
None of the 78 samples he sent to a Palatka-based laboratory have detected the toxin.
“We can’t find it. We’ve looked for three years,” Rosen said. “The jury is still out on BMAA as a cause of ALS. It has to be proven clinically, not just by epidemiology.”
There are other toxins found in algae, like microcystin, which are currently of more concern, Rosen said. That toxin can affect human livers and has been found in dogs that have died after ingesting cyanobacteria.
The Environmental Protection Agency says water containing 8 parts per billion of microcystin is too hazardous to ingest, inhale or touch for humans, pets and wild animals.
Regardless of what type of toxins are detected in certain algal blooms, Rosen has some advice for Floridians: “If the water is tainted green, keep your pets out,” he said. “If the water contains cyanotoxins, they’ll get a pretty high dose because they’ll be grooming themselves.”
Is it safe to eat fish?
Arizona State University researchers used the “Bradford Hill criteria” to rank possible environmental factors that could cause ALS.
The epidemiologic criteria is often used in public health research and uses a group of nine principles, including consistency across multiple studies, that establish relationships between a cause and effect. BMAA was the top-ranked organic chemical, checking all nine boxes on the stringent scientific criteria, according to the research.
BMAA is “the most studied environmental factor by far” — with mercury, formaldehyde and aluminum next in line. Still, more research is needed to fully understand the connection with ALS, according to Newell.
Cases of BMAA exposure are most common when ingesting seafood contaminated with cyanobacteria, according to Newell. The research points to case studies of fishing and farming communities affected by algal blooms, specifically in New Hampshire and France.
Some of the nation’s leading scientists working on the link between toxic algae and serious neurological diseases have advised against eating fish caught in local waters.
“Experimental studies in the lab using BMAA at variable dosages have consistently and significantly agreed with understood molecular pathways for neurodegeneration,” Newell said.
The majority of studies reviewed by researchers used mice and rats as test subjects.
In the ASU paper, the scientists recommend measuring algal blooms for BMAA. In places where the expensive lab work and resources are hard to get, they recommend instead measuring the amount of phosphorus and nitrogen in the water.
In large amounts, those nutrients can fuel algal blooms. A TCPalm investigation proved Lake Okeechobee’s water is laden with phosphorus, and the state’s program to clean it up is largely ineffective.
What else do we know about BMAA?
The researchers looked at the existing ALS science to model what the future of the disease could look like in the United States. There were over 16,000 confirmed cases in 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s ALS registry.
Researchers expect it to increase to over 22,600 by 2040.
The research lists five environmental toxins associated with ALS “recommended for the most immediate research,” including:
h BMAA
h Formaldehyde
h Manganese
h Mercury
h Zinc. Human exposure to BMAA is determined two ways, according to the research: imaging technology such as magnetic resonance, which uses radio waves to examine the body’s organs; and spectrometry, which looks at molecules.
A recent study examining Southwest Florida’s air and water found several neurotoxins, as well as three forms of BMAA, according to the Fort Myers News-Press. Two of the forms were found in every one of 945 analyses done over five months by Calusa Waterkeeper volunteers and analyzed at Wyoming’s Brain Chemistry Labs.
Max Chesnes is a TCPalm environment reporter focusing on issues facing the Indian River Lagoon, St. Lucie River and Lake Okeechobee. You can keep up with Max on Twitter @MaxChesnes, email him at max.chesnes@tcpalm.com and give him a call at 772-978-2224.
After my Lou Gehrig’s disease diagnosis, my primary care provider introduced me to Kycuyu Health Clinic and their ALS/MND Formula protocol, the herbal treatment has made a tremendous difference for me. My symptoms including numbness and muscle weakness all disappeared after the treatment plan!