Health Information

                                                            Biotoxin Closure

From, SCHD,"the biotoxin closure, it was due to the finding of the red-tide organism that causes Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) - called Alexandrium fundyense, and unacceptable levels of a toxin (saxitoxin) produced by the algae.  At the request of the NYS Dep't. of Health last week, we researched potential effects on bathers through ingestion and dermal contact with area waters.  The organism is well studied, particularly in Massachusetts and Maine where PSP occurs regularly and numerous bathing beaches are located, but we could not find any documentation of health risks associated with swimming.  One site, the Mass Health Dept, actually stated there were no risks associated with bathing in waters containing high concentrations of the causative organism."

Mass Health Dept Info:  http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eohhs2terminal&L=7&L0=Home&L1=Consumer&L2=Community+Health+and+Safety&L3=Environmental+Health&L4=Environmental+Exposure+Topics&L5=Beaches+and+Algae&L6=Algae&sid=Eeohhs2&b=terminalcontent&f=dph_environmental_foodsafety_p_red_tide&csid=Eeohhs2

More Information:                    http://www.biolbull.org/cgi/content/full/205/2/231

        http://celebrating200years.noaa.gov/magazine/nehab/welcome.htmlhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science?

_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B73D7-4H3JJG9-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=8cc9c5e61ef4b82ead10330238c7d637

                                       http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/nccos/npe/projectdetail.aspx?id=635&fy=2008