Participate in a Cyantotoxins Air Study
CYANOTOXIN in AIR STUDY (CAST):
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Assessing Health Effects
WHAT ARE WE STUDYING? You may have heard about cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae. These microorganisms grow in water. Some types of cyanobacteria make toxins that can make people sick. We are researching whether these toxins can get into our bodies through the air we breathe.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE? If you are interested in participating in the study, please email cast@cdc.gov or call 561-297-4631. Some of the eligibility criteria include: • Adults aged 18 or older • Live or work on Lake Okeechobee, St. Lucie River, Caloosahatchee River, Cape Coral Canals, or other nearby waters in Florida • Spend at least two hours outside on most days
WHAT CAN PARTICIPANTS EXPECT? Participants will meet with study staff members 5 times during a bloom season, which is about March through October. We will ask you to complete surveys about your symptoms, provide urine specimens and nasal swabs, perform a simple lung function test on your own in your home (also called remote spirometry), and provide some blood specimens. We will test the urine specimens and nasal swabs for cyanobacterial toxins in this study. We will test the blood samples for changes in liver and kidney function. We will ask you to allow us to save your de-identified survey questions and specimens so we can test them for other important environmental toxins in the future. Your specimens will not be tested for anything else. Staff members will also work with you to record air quality measurements and time spent outdoors.
There is no cost to be in this study. For volunteering your time, we will give you gift cards as you complete study activities. We will also give you the results from the blood specimen tests. We will not be able to tell you if any of the symptoms you report on the survey your symptoms are specifically from exposure to these toxins. By looking at the results from all study participants, we may be able to tell which symptoms are likely to be a result of exposure to cyanotoxins.
Please be assured that CDC will take all necessary steps to protect members of your community from COVID-19. The exposure assessment will be conducted following all state, local, and CDC guidelines in place at the time the exposure assessment is conducted. CDC team members will be monitored twice daily for fever and any COVID-19-related symptoms and will wear surgical masks and gloves to ensure the protection of participants. Participants will be asked to always wear a face covering or mask when interacting with exposure assessment personnel. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided to you before you enter the facility. If you are unable to wear a mask for medical reasons, please let us know. Part of our COVID-19-related precautions include doing the simple lung function test on your own in your home (also called remote spirometry).
To participate or learn more: call: 561-297-4631 | visit: www.cdc.gov/nceh/cast | email: cast@cdc.go