Award

Harmful algal blooms (HAB) detrimentally impact the health of populations and economies on a global scale. Toxins produced by these algae affect sources of food and water. Another less well understood result of HAB is the aerosolization of the toxins they produce. The initial consequences of toxin inhalation on human health are being revealed through elevated hospitalization rates in coastal regions during HAB events. Research in this area is hampered by the inability to accurately determine exposure levels due to the transient nature of aerosolized toxins. Screening the aerosol environment of coastal regions rapidly, accurately, and affordably for a wide range of algal toxins will provide relevant agencies with necessary real-time aerosol identification capabilities. Our proposed solution is a portable, fieldable, automated MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer that can act as an early warning system for coastal populations. The knowledge generated from this technology would enable local officials to make informed decisions on emerging algal blooms more quickly, better protecting coastal communities and industries. The system could revolutionize the discovery of emerging HAB, allowing aerosolized algae and toxins to be identified and quantified. This novel capability will empower future research into the impacts of aerosolized algal toxins on human health.