A major area of research for the Glassell Family Center for Marine Biomedicine is the impact of environmental stressors on human health and disease. Environmental stressors can harm human health by increasing the risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, asthma, stroke, and cancer. Scientists within the Center study three general categories of environmental stress exposure: chemicals, extreme heat, and pathogens.
Chemicals
One category of chemicals that Center scientists study are metals, such as mercury, cadmium, lead, arsenic, chromium, and nickel. Metals enter the environment through various sources including natural weathering, industrial activities such as mining, paint, pressure treated wood (i.e., treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA)), and electronic waste such as batteries. Depending on the metal, exposure can cause organ damage, neurological issues, and increased cancer risk. Another group of contaminants that Center scientists study are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs describe a group of organic compounds that form from the incomplete combustion of wood, coal, oil, gas and tobacco. They also can enter the environment naturally, for example, during forest fires or through natural oil seeps into the water. There is a major connection between exposure to PAHs and increased cancer risk. PAH exposure is also linked to lung disease, issues with low birth weight and pre-term birth, as well as cognitive impairment. Particularly at-risk populations are individuals that work with coal and asphalt, city residents, smokers and firefighters, as well as children and pregnant women.
Extreme Heat
Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related death. In Miami-Dade County, extreme heat can occur during the summer, and especially in urban areas due to the high number of paved areas, reduced greenspace and trees, and reduced shade. Exposure to extreme heat can worsen underlying conditions such as heart disease, asthma, and diabetes, and it can also increase the risk of infectious disease transmission. The most vulnerable populations to extreme heat are the elderly and those in poor health; however, occupation and socioeconomic conditions can also dictate susceptibility. For example, individuals doing manual labor outdoors are at higher risk of heat exposure. In addition, people who live in cities or are of lower socioeconomic status are often disproportionately exposed to extremes in heat due to poor housing and a lack of air conditioning.
Pathogens
Pathogens include bacteria, viruses, and parasites. In the marine environment, toxic cyanobacteria and harmful algae are transmitted and can affect human health in the same way as traditional pathogens but do not multiply within the body. Pathogens can be found in the air, soil, contaminated water, and undercooked food. Exposure to pathogens can be through ingestion of contaminated water or food, inhalation of spores or aerosols containing the pathogen, direct contact with contaminated surfaces or body fluids, or via vectors like mosquitos, ticks, or other insects. Fairly immediately, exposure to pathogens can cause gastrointestinal illness, respiratory infections and skin legions. Over a more chronic time frame, there can be organ damage, neurological impairment, and malnutrition. Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable, as well as individuals that are in disaster-affected areas.
