Rapid and Low-Cost Field Toxin Analysis to Monitor Harmful Algal Blooms

Brevetoxins are a group of marine algal toxic compounds that are produced by microscopic dinoflagellate algae such as Karenia brevis. During harmful algal blooms (HAB), brevetoxins reach concentrations high enough to cause human neurological and gastrointestinal illnesses through inhalation of the airborne toxins or consumption of contaminated shellfish. The timely recognition of this toxin in marine environment is of great importance for public safety, human health, human recreation, marine ecology, and the marine economy. Therefore, it would be extremely valuable to provide coastal managers and fisheries with a practical field device that would accurately assess brevetoxin toxicity levels. The overall objective of this program is to develop a low-cost and easy-to-use electrochemical test for rapid and quantitative detection of brevetoxin species in seawater. This versatile field device will allow near real-time monitoring of brevetoxin levels in seawater and aerosols throughout the progression of a red tide bloom. The developed platform technology has the potential to go beyond detection of brevetoxin as indicator of HABs and could find applications in areas where rapid, accurate, and selective detection of marine (and other) toxins are needed.