Oceans and Human Health

Oceans and Human Health: Overview

  • Authors: OCK J. WALSH, SHARON L. SMITH, LENA M. SOLO-GABRIELE, WILLIAM H. GERW

  • Course Code: MSC 111

  • Year: 2025

Learning Goals

  • Understanding the interconnectedness of the oceans and human health

  • Recognizing that work in this area is often transdisciplinary

  • Identifying the dual role of the ocean in human health:

    • Solutions for Health: Animal models and marine pharmacology/natural products

    • Risks: Harmful algal blooms (HABs), cholera, etc.

Examples of Work in the Area

  • Helena Solo-Gabriele: Focus on civil engineering

  • Rita Colwell: Involved in global health and water issues

  • Jenna Forsyth: Concentrates on water and food safety

  • Research Focus: HABs and their effects on human health

Key Concepts and Themes
Ocean & Human Health

  • Health and Recreation: Interrelation of health, leisure activities, and access to clean oceans

  • Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs): Role in promoting public health related to oceans

  • Disease: Identifying diseases connected to the ocean (e.g., cholera)

  • Labour and Wealth: Economic implications of ocean health

  • Food: The connection between ocean health and food safety

  • Resilience: The capacity of communities to withstand ocean-related health challenges

Transdisciplinary Approaches

  • Integrating various fields (science, engineering, sociology) to address challenges

Operationalization of Ocean Health

  • Diversity and Productivity: Importance of biodiversity in maintaining ocean health

  • Scientific Guidance: Utilizing scientific research to inform policy and practice

  • Recovery Timescales: Timeframes for ecosystems to recover from stressors

Active Intervention

  • Funding opportunities for projects that connect ocean health and human health

Oceans and Human Health Initiatives
Major Programs and Centers

  • Oceans and Human Health Initiative: Aims for a healthy ocean supporting healthy people

    • Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF)

    • Collaborating with the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

  • Contributions of Various Factors:

    • Climate change

    • Pollution

    • Invasive species

    • Land and resource usage

    • Extreme natural events

  • Oceans and Human Health Center: Based at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School

Academic and Research Profiles

  • Daniel Benetti: Director/Principal Investigator

    • Laura Bianchi: Associated with the Miller School of Medicine

    • M. Danielle McDonald, Ph.D.: Involved with Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science

    • Various other faculty and their research interests presented

Animal Models in Research

  • Utilization of Fish as Model Systems:

    • Sharks: Studied for immune systems and neurophysiology

    • Toadfish: Focus on nitrogen metabolism and genomics

    • Damsel Fish: Utilized for behavior studies and tumor genesis research

    • Zebra Fish: Genomics research

  • Invertebrate Models: Such as Aplysia and echinoderms (e.g., sea urchins)

Gulf Toadfish (Opsanus beta)

  • Common in Biscayne Bay

  • Characteristics:

    • Hardy and easy to manipulate in lab settings

    • Model for nitrogen metabolism, specifically urea excretion

Biomedical Model Systems

  • Comparative Physiology: "Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny" - understanding biological processes through comparative studies

  • System Set-Up: Controlled laboratory conditions ensuring humane treatment of animals (according to NIH guidelines)

Research Interests and Contributions
Focus on Environmental and Human Health

  • Helena Solo-Gabriele: Focused on contaminant fate/transport, microbial contaminants, heavy metal impacts from pressure-treated wood, and organic contaminants in urban marine environments

  • **Research Topics: ** Wastewater quality, COVID impacts, beach bacteria, HABS, and their implications

Beach Water Quality and Monitoring

  • Beach Water Quality: Tips and applications for assessing local beach water conditions

  • Environmental Organizations: Track water safety across regions, including apps for checking water quality

  • Ocean Sewage Outfalls: Advocacy against ocean dumping and pollution - presentations of public awareness campaigns

Cholera Research and Dynamics
Dr. Rita Colwell's Contributions

  • Focus on marine bacteria, lipids, and transformative work on cholera and global health

  • Exploring relationships between cholera transmission and environmental influences

Epidemiological Findings

  • New perspectives offered on cholera transmission dynamics, linking it to person-to-person contact rather than environmental contamination

Cholera Patterns Analysis

  • Temporal Variability: Cholera dynamics linked to El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO);

  • Correlation Analysis: Illustrated strong correlations between environmental factors and choleral outbreaks

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
Health Effects and Toxins

  • Types of Blooms: Red tides, brown tides, and blue-green blooms (cyanobacteria)

  • Health Risks: Ingestion leads to conditions like paralytic shellfish poisoning, liver damage, and potentially neurological damage

    • Specific toxins highlighted include microcystins, cylindrospermopsin, nodularin, and more

Advanced Research Initiatives: DISPEL Program

  • DISPEL Study Team: Led by experts in environmental science and health focusing on community engaged studies in harmful algal blooms

    • Recruitment strategies for participants in areas surrounding Lake Okeechobee

    • Data collected on demographics, exposure, and health outcomes over several years

    • Use of citizen scientists for data collection on microbiome and water samples

Marine Pharmacology and Natural Products

  • Marine Natural Products: Substantial research detailing the discovery of new compounds with therapeutic effects

  • FDA: Discussion on the approval processes for marine-derived pharmaceutical compounds

Conclusion

  • The interconnectedness of ocean ecosystems and human health is critical for future research and public health policy developments.

  • Emphasis on public awareness, scientific innovation, and collaborative efforts to address marine health risks in the context of global health challenges.