What is red tide and why is it harmful to humans and to environment? | What Science says | PH RED TV

Summary

In this Phred TV episode, we explore red tide, a marine phenomenon that can be dangerous to coastal communities. It's a harmful algae bloom that produces toxins, affecting shellfish and causing paralytic shellfish poisoning in humans. Symptoms include tingling, headache, dizziness, and potentially life-threatening respiratory issues. The National Red Tide Task Force monitors these blooms in the Philippines to protect public health and the shellfish industry.

Takeaways

• 🌊 Red tide is a marine phenomenon that can be harmful to health and coastal economies.
• 🌡️ It is sometimes referred to as a harmful algae bloom (HAB), even if it doesn't visibly color the water.
• 🦠 Most phytoplankton are harmless, but some species produce potent neurotoxins.
• 🐚 Shellfish like mussels or clams can concentrate these toxins, posing a risk to humans who consume them.
• 🚨 Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) is a serious syndrome that can occur after eating contaminated shellfish.
• ⏱️ Symptoms of PSP can appear within two hours of consumption, including tingling and numbness, headache, and nausea.
• 🏥 Severe cases of PSP can lead to respiratory difficulties and even death within 24 hours.
• 💨 Physical contact with red tide can cause breathing problems, especially for those with pre-existing lung conditions.
• 🛑 There is no antidote for PSP, but life support measures can help ensure recovery.
• 🔬 In the Philippines, the National Red Tide Task Force monitors red tides to protect public health and the shellfish industry.

Q & A

What is red tide?

Red tide is a marine phenomenon that poses a great risk to the health and economic livelihood of people in coastal areas. It is sometimes referred to as a harmful algae bloom (HAB).

Why is red tide harmful?

Red tide is harmful because a small number of phytoplankton species within it produce potent neurotoxins that can be transferred down the food chain and affect people who ingest them.

How do humans commonly get affected by red tide?

Humans are commonly affected by red tide through the consumption of shellfish such as mussels or clams that have been exposed to the harmful algae bloom.

What is Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP)?

Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) is a syndrome that people can develop if they eat seafood contaminated by a red tide. It can be life-threatening and often shows itself within two hours of consumption.

What are the symptoms of PSP?

Symptoms of PSP include tingling of the lips and tongue, headache, dizziness, nausea, and in severe cases, muscular paralysis and respiratory difficulty.

How soon can the symptoms of PSP appear after consuming contaminated shellfish?

The symptoms of PSP can appear within 30 minutes to 2 hours after ingestion of contaminated shellfish.

What are the severe effects of PSP?

In severe cases, PSP can lead to respiratory arrest within 24 hours of consumption, and even death if not treated promptly.

Can red tide cause breathing problems even for those without respiratory issues?

Yes, coming into physical contact with red tide may result in breathing problems even for people who do not have previous respiratory issues.

What is the role of the National Red Tide Task Force (NRTTF) in the Philippines?

The NRTTF in the Philippines is mandated to monitor toxic red tides to protect the public from illness and death caused by red tide toxins and to mitigate its negative impact on the shellfish industry.

Is there an antidote for PSP?

There is no specific antidote for syndromes such as PSP, but life support systems like mechanical respirators and oxygen can help individuals make a full recovery.

What should one do if they suspect they have eaten contaminated seafood?

If one suspects they have eaten contaminated seafood, they should see a doctor immediately.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 Understanding Red Tide

The video introduces the concept of red tide, a marine phenomenon that poses significant health and economic risks to coastal communities. It explains that red tide, also known as harmful algae bloom (HAB), is caused by certain species of phytoplankton that produce potent neurotoxins. These toxins can accumulate in shellfish, leading to paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) in humans who consume them. The video emphasizes the importance of not consuming shellfish exposed to red tide and the potential life-threatening effects of PSP, which can cause paralysis and respiratory difficulties.

Keywords

💡Red Tide

Red tide is a marine phenomenon characterized by a high concentration of algal blooms that discolor the water. It is a significant ecological event that can have detrimental effects on marine life and human health. In the video, red tide is described as posing a great risk to the health and economic livelihood of people in coastal areas, emphasizing its importance as the central theme of the video.

💡Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB)

Harmful Algae Bloom refers to the rapid overgrowth of algae in bodies of water, which can produce toxins harmful to marine life, humans, and the ecosystem. The video explains that while most phytoplankton species are not harmful, a small number of species known to produce potent neurotoxins are the focus of concern during HABs.

💡Neurotoxins

Neurotoxins are toxic substances that specifically target the nervous system. The video mentions that certain species of phytoplankton produce these toxins, which can be transferred through the food chain and cause severe health issues in humans who consume contaminated shellfish.

💡Shellfish

Shellfish, such as mussels or clams, are filter feeders that can accumulate toxins from harmful algae blooms. The video explains that consuming shellfish exposed to red tide can lead to paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), highlighting the direct link between red tide and human health.

💡Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP)

Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning is a syndrome that results from the ingestion of shellfish contaminated with toxins produced by certain harmful algal species. The video describes PSP as potentially life-threatening, with symptoms appearing within two hours of consumption, emphasizing the severity of red tide's impact on human health.

💡Food Chain

The food chain represents the sequence of consumption among organisms in an ecosystem. The video explains how toxins from red tide can be transferred down the food chain, affecting not only the primary producers (phytoplankton) but also consumers like shellfish and ultimately humans.

💡Nervous System

The nervous system is a complex network of nerves and cells responsible for transmitting signals between different parts of the body. The video details how PSP affects the nervous system, causing symptoms like tingling, headache, dizziness, and in severe cases, respiratory difficulty.

💡Respiratory Difficulty

Respiratory difficulty refers to any condition that makes breathing hard or uncomfortable. The video mentions that severe cases of PSP can lead to respiratory difficulty, which may be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.

💡Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources is a government agency in the Philippines responsible for the management and conservation of fisheries and aquatic resources. The video mentions BFAR's role in monitoring red tides to protect public health and the shellfish industry, illustrating the institutional response to red tide phenomena.

💡National Red Tide Task Force (NRTTF)

The National Red Tide Task Force is a body mandated to monitor and respond to red tide events. As highlighted in the video, NRTTF plays a crucial role in protecting the public from the harmful effects of red tide toxins and mitigating its impact on the shellfish industry.

💡Life Support Systems

Life support systems are medical equipment and procedures designed to support or replace the body's natural functions. The video notes that in cases of severe PSP, life support systems such as mechanical respirators and oxygen can be critical for recovery, underscoring the medical interventions required to address red tide's health effects.

Highlights

Red tide is a marine phenomenon that poses a risk to health and economy in coastal areas.

Red tide is also known as harmful algae bloom (HAB).

Harmful algae blooms can produce potent neurotoxins.

Toxins from red tide can be transferred down the food chain affecting humans.

Shellfish such as mussels or clams can carry red tide toxins.

Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) is a syndrome caused by consuming contaminated seafood.

PSP can be life-threatening and may show symptoms within two hours.

Symptoms of PSP include tingling of lips and tongue, headache, dizziness, and nausea.

Severe cases of PSP can lead to muscular paralysis and respiratory difficulty.

There's no antidote for PSP, but life support systems can aid recovery.

Physical contact with red tide may cause breathing problems.

Red tide reactions can be worse for individuals with chronic lung diseases.

Red tide can negatively impact marine life.

The National Red Tide Task Force in the Philippines monitors toxic red tides.

Regular updates on red tide are issued to protect the public and shellfish industry.

If you suspect consuming contaminated seafood, seek medical attention immediately.

Transcripts

[Music]

hi

welcome to phred tv in today's video

let's find out more about red tide

and why shellfish exposed to red tide

should not be consumed

[Music]

but before we continue please subscribe

to this channel

and hit the notification bell icon to

keep you updated on my future uploads

without much further ado let's begin

with our topic

red tight is a marine phenomenon that

poses great risk to the health

and economic livelihood of people in

coastal areas

the red tide is sometimes referred to as

a harmful algae bloom or hab

in some cases harmful algae blooms are

not dense enough to give ocean a

particular hue

their most prominent effect is often

seen in the surrounding ecosystem

most phytoplankton species are not

harmful to people but a small number of

species

are known to produce potent neurotoxins

these toxins can be transferred down the

food chain

it's made up of microscopic algae or

phytoplankton which are essential to

ocean life affecting people who

accidentally ingest them

the consumption of shellfish such as

mussels or clams

is one of the most common ways for

humans to be affected by red tide

paralytic shellfish poisoning or also

known as psp is a syndrome

that people can develop if they eat

seafood contaminated by a red tide

psp can be life-threatening and often

shows itself within two hours of

consumption

[Music]

consuming toxic shellfish could lead to

paralytic shellfish poisoning

which affects the nervous system within

30 minutes after ingestion

this causes tingling of the lips and

tongue which spreads to the face

neck fingertips and toes it will also

lead to headache

dizziness and nausea in severe cases

muscular paralysis and respiratory

difficulty may occur

within 5 to 12 hours in non-lethal cases

these conditions may appear over the

course of a few days

in severe instances individuals may

experience respiratory arrest

within 24 hours of consumption coming

into physical contact with red tide

may result in breathing problems even

for people who don't have previous

respiratory issues

reactions to red tide may be worse in

individuals with asthma

emphysema or any other chronic lung

disease

to end our topic here's our key ideas

for this video

red tide may not be harmful to humans

who aren't exposed to its toxins but it

can have a negative impact on marine

life

if you eat seafood contaminated with

toxins neurological symptoms may occur

and become serious

there's no antidote for syndromes such

as psp but life support systems

such as a mechanical respirator and

oxygen

can help you make a full recovery see a

doctor

if you think you may have eaten

contaminated seafood

in the philippines under the bureau of

fisheries and aquatic resources

nrttf for the national red tide task

force is mandated

to monitor toxic red tides in our

country this is to protect the public

from the illness and death caused by the

red tide toxin

and also to mitigate its negative impact

to the shellfish industry

the regular issuance of the red tide

update is also being undertaken

that's all for today i hope you learned

something new in today's topic

thank you for stay tuning in see you

again soon here at phred tv