Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/M010252/1
Climate, Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), and Human Health
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Professor LE Fleming, University of Exeter, Institute of Health Research
- Grant held at:
- University of Exeter, Institute of Health Research
- Science Area:
- Atmospheric
- Earth
- Freshwater
- Marine
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Marine
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Natural Resource Management
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- Climate & Climate Change
- Population Ecology
- Land - Ocean Interactions
- Environment & Health
- Pollution
- Abstract:
- Harmful algal blooms (HABs) and their potent natural toxins have been associated with human and animal diseases, ranging from gastrointestinal to neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Parkinsons Disease). HABs are increasing in aquatic ecosystems worldwide, associated with non-climatic factors (e.g. nutrients and fertilizers) and possibly climate change. Changes in ocean temperature caused by climate change will affect future frequency and algal bloom composition; new toxic species forming significant blooms have been identified throughout Europe. These factors may lead to permanent establishment of once uncommon harmful algal species in UK waters, posing increasing threats to human health and wellbeing. The overall Aims of this CASE PhD collaboration between the University of Exeter Medical School, the UK Met Office, Public Health England (PHE) and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) are to: 1) Investigate associations between environmental and climate change and HABs sampled in the CEFAS Biotoxin Monitoring Programme in UK waters; 2) Combine models and observations to predict current and future occurences of marine and coastal HABs; 3) Explore possible associations between HAB blooms and subsequent human health effects by analysing PHE health data for illnesses associated with HAB events around the UK. Methodology: The student based at the University of Exeter Medical School (UEMS) working with the Partners will undertake: 1) Systematic review to explore documented HAB-related human health outbreaks to identify both environmental conditions and descriptions of the human health outcomes for subsequent modelling and other analyses; 2) Building on tools and methodologies developed in the Met Office AlgaRisk model, link historical time series of marine meteorological (e.g. wind), oceanographic (e.g. sea surface temperature), biological (chlorophyll), and river data with CEFAS biotoxin monitoring records; 3) Identify the timing and location of historical HAB-forming algae in North Atlantic European West Shelf, and explore the model; 4) Use climate projections to explore likely changes in occurences of HABs driven by future marine environmental conditions (e.g. temperature, salinity, nutrients); 5) Link the above to health endpoint data (e.g. UK hospital episode statistics) to explore diseases possibly associated with HAB occurences over the past 2 decades. The expansive temporal-spatial scale, with large human health databases, will provide sufficient data to explore the possible climate change-HAB-human health connections, as well as identify potentially vulnerable human populations for targeted interventions and provide modelling for future early HAB warning systems and economic impact analysis.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/M010252/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Industrial CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £85,925
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Fees | Total - Student Stipend | Total - RTSG |
|---|---|---|
| £16,586 | £58,339 | £11,000 |
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