Mlodgenski, Paul
(2024)
Quantifying Demographic Disparities of Red Tide Exposure and Complications in Sarasota and Manatee Counties: A Pilot Study.
Master's Thesis, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
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Abstract
Florida harmful algal blooms, commonly known as red tides, are attributed to exponential growth of Karenia brevis (K. brevis). During a bloom period, not only is there severe ecological disruption, but humans and other animals experience multisystemic pathophysiological effects. While many respiratory effects associated with red tide exposure are known, there has not been a study to date that quantifies exposure to exponential cell growth and respiratory distress across demographic groups. Cell count data aggregated in the Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Monitoring Database along with respiratory irritation data from Mote Marine Laboratory’s Beach Conditioning Reporting System collected from volunteer beachgoers across multiple sampling sites in Sarasota and Manatee counties in Florida were obtained. We used spatial statistics to map possible associations between eight demographic variables including percentage of individuals with asthma, percentage of persons without internet, percentage of persons who are uninsured, percentage of minority persons, persons aged 65 and older estimate, persons aged 17 and younger estimate, percentage of civilian noninstitutionalized population with a disability estimate, and percentage of persons (age 5+) who speak English “less than well” estimate. Demographic variable densities geocoded as census tracts were compared with locations for the most severe burden of exposure and outcomes of red tide. The results of these analyzes support a statistically significant difference between Manatee and Sarasota counties in cell count severity. The results of these analyzes do not support a statistically significant difference between Manatee and Sarasota counties in respiratory irritation severity. These conclusions are supported through Wilcoxon Rank Sum p-values of 0.007 and 0004 and a Kruskal Wallis p-value of 0.865 to assess exposure and outcomes between the two counties, respectively. Given that Sarasota County has a greater burden of red tide exposure, these analyzes indicate that targeted intervention should consider spatial demographic data when communicating red tide primary prevention strategies to adversely burdened populations including those with asthma, those of 65 years of age, those 17 and younger, those who are uninsured, and those without internet access. Further, our results provide insight that could improve public health communication of harmful algal blooms to these adversely burden populations.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
14 May 2024 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
10 April 2024 |
| Approval Date: |
14 May 2024 |
| Submission Date: |
26 April 2024 |
| Access Restriction: |
1 year -- Restrict access to University of Pittsburgh for a period of 1 year. |
| Number of Pages: |
82 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Epidemiology |
| Degree: |
MS - Master of Science |
| Thesis Type: |
Master's Thesis |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Used spatial statistics to examine red tide exposure and complications across demographic groups in Sarasota and Manatee Counties |
| Date Deposited: |
14 May 2024 18:37 |
| Last Modified: |
15 Jul 2024 19:15 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/46345 |
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