How Breathing Lake Erie’s Airborne Algae Can Affect Your Health

Scientists are studying airborne algae toxins from Lake Erie in the Great Lakes Aerosol Monitoring Research Study (GLAMR). The project is led by David Kennedy, professor of medicine at the University of Toledo and head of the Great Lakes Center for Freshwater and Human Health.

So far, about 200 participants – roughly 75 % of the study’s target – have been enrolled. Each person provides nasal swabs, blood, urine and exhaled‑breath samples, allowing researchers to track how the toxins move through the body.

Researchers explain that when waves break or motorboats and jet skis move across the water, algae toxins can become trapped in bubbles and turn into aerosol particles. These particles can travel many kilometres and remain suspended in the air for days to weeks.

People who inhale the airborne toxins have reported a rash, sore throat, red eyes, asthma‑like symptoms and a seasonal “August cough,” a term used by local boaters to describe the irritation that appears during bloom season.

Kennedy says, “We want to understand … what does this do to normal healthy people, but potentially are there people who are at risk who may be more susceptible to these toxins?” He adds that the response varies widely among individuals, making it important to identify who is most vulnerable.

The findings matter because millions live around the Great Lakes, and the flat terrain around Lake Erie can help spread the aerosolized toxins far beyond the shoreline. While water can be managed with dams, airborne particles move with the wind, so understanding the health impact is crucial for public‑health planning.

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