Excessive growths of blue-green algae, known as cyanobacteria, and Karenia brevis, which creates red tide, release toxins into the surrounding air and water that can negatively impact the environment and human health.

A team of researchers led by 麻豆原创 is studying the relationships between these harmful algal blooms in Florida and how they impact human health, potentially causing respiratory, gastrointestinal, skin and liver issues.

鈥淭his study is about making it safe to enjoy our waterways,鈥� says Rebecca Koszalinski, College of Nursing associate professor who leads 麻豆原创鈥檚 Human Health Outcomes of Exposure to Environmental Toxins Lab.

Koszalinski is using a One Health approach that examines how humans influence the environment and how the environment influences human health. The multidisciplinary research team includes experts from other universities as well as veterinarians, immunologists, clinical research nurses, water and air researchers, and epidemiologists.

The study focuses on Florida, where harmful algal blooms are common occurrences and found in all waterways. Florida is also where the blooms have the potential to impact the health of a large number of people, as the state is a top destination for outdoor enthusiasts, especially those who enjoy boating and fishing.

Koszalinski and her team are sampling both air and water to determine the presence of toxins throughout Florida鈥檚 beaches and waterways. Air particles are absorbed using a nine-layer cascade impactor to predict how deeply toxins could go into the human respiratory tract.

Additionally, the team is collecting nasal swabs and small blood samples from residents and visitors in the area to determine if there has been any potential exposure.

The study is funded by the Florida Department of Health, and its first five-year phase showed an increase in dry cough, wheezing, nausea and abdominal pain among residents exposed to the blooms.

Now in its second phase, researchers are continuing to collect samples from previous participants in Lee County to examine potential health impacts over time and any long-term outcomes such as worsening pre-existing conditions.

Researchers are currently who live, visit or work in Florida.

By better understanding the implications of harmful algal blooms in Florida, the team hopes to better advise residents and visitors on when to exercise caution.

鈥淔or example, if you know you鈥檙e going to be in the sun, you take precautions and put on sunscreen,” Koszalinski says. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e going to be out on a boat and there鈥檚 red tide nearby, what does that mean and what do our residents and visitors need to do for safety?鈥�

鈥淔lorida is my home,鈥� Koszalinski continues, 鈥渁nd I want all our residents and visitors to continue to enjoy the wonderful outdoor recreational activities here.鈥�

About This Research

Health Outcomes Associated with Algal Blooms of Cyanobacteria and Red Tide in Florida: Long-Term Health Impacts of Harmful Algal Bloom Exposure, Phase 2. 麻豆原创 and Florida Gulf Coast University. Florida Department of Health. Key Personnel: Koszalinski, R. (PI), McFarland, M. (Co-PI), Parsons, M. (Co-I), Reif, J. (epidemiologist).

Induction recognizes accomplished nurse leaders who have made significant contributions to advance and impact public health. The 2025 class of fellows is the largest in the academy鈥檚 history, representing 42 states, the District of Columbia, and 12 countries.

Koszalinski and Parchment will be inducted on Oct. 18 during the academy鈥檚 annual Health Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. They will join more than 3,200 fellows of the American Academy of Nursing, including 10 at 麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Nursing.

Rebecca Koszalinski

, an associate professor who joined 麻豆原创 last year, is currently leading a team of researchers on phase two of a longitudinal study examining health outcomes of exposure to harmful algal bloom toxins in Florida and its impact on social engagement of older adults. The research not only seeks to recognize patient symptoms and develop actionable nursing interventions, but also address policy challenges to improve health and the environment.

Her impact also includes patient-led solutions and the development and use of technological innovations to improve the health of older adults. She developed SFM-V (Speak for Myself – Voice), an app that helps users with disabilities easily communicate with providers in acute-care settings by indicating pain level and specific needs. The app was released for free during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is still available for free download today and used by several healthcare systems around the world.

Koszalinski is a founding member and fellow of the Society of Nurse Scientists, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, &Leaders, a fellow of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses, and a 2025 cohort member of the Environmental Health Research Institute for Nurse and Clinical Scientists, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Joy Parchment 鈥�15笔丑顿

, an sssistant professor, joined 麻豆原创 in 2020 after previously holding various leadership positions at Orlando Health, including corporate director of nursing strategy implementation.

Her impact as a nurse leader extends nationally through her service in professional organizations and scholarly activities. She currently holds appointments on the American Nurses Credentialing Center Commission on Magnet, the academic practice advisory committee of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, as well as the research committee of the Association for Leadership Science in Nursing.

As a researcher, Parchment focuses on professional nursing practice and nursing leadership science. Her published work on defining role-based factors perpetuating nurse manager workplace bullying has been cited 45 times in national and international publications.

Most recently she led the development of an evidence-based electronic manual for interim nurse managers. The publication has been downloaded more than 170 times to-date and was recognized by the Association for Leadership Science in Nursing as an innovative solution for mitigating the nurse manager workforce crisis and developing other front-line nurse leaders.