Geographic Variability, Seasonality, and Increase in ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Harmful Blue-Green Algae Calls—United States and Canada, 2010–2022

Harmful cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) exposures can cause illness or death in humans and animals. We characterized American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) harmful blue-green algae (HBGA) call data, compared it to a measure of harmful a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Toxins 2023-08, Vol.15 (8), p.505
Main Authors: Bloch, Rebecca A., Faulkner, Grace, Hilborn, Elizabeth D., Wismer, Tina, Martin, Nicole, Rhea, Sarah
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algae
Animal welfare
Animals
Aquatic ecosystems
Aquatic plants
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
Cats
Control centres
Cyanobacteria
Dogs
Environmental aspects
Exposure
harmful blue-green algae
Health aspects
Health risk assessment
Health risks
Health surveillance
Illnesses
News
Perceptions
Public awareness
Public health
Seasonal variations
sentinels
Statistics
surveillance
Veterinarians
Water bloom
Water quality
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Summary:Harmful cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) exposures can cause illness or death in humans and animals. We characterized American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) harmful blue-green algae (HBGA) call data, compared it to a measure of harmful algal bloom public awareness, and considered its suitability as a public health information source. ASPCA APCC dog and cat “HBGA exposure” calls made 1 January 2010–31 December 2022 were included. We calculated annual HBGA call percentages and described calls (species, month, origin, exposure route). We characterized public awareness by quantifying Nexis Uni® (LexisNexis Academic; New York, NY, USA)-indexed news publications (2010–2022) pertaining to “harmful algal bloom(s)”. Call percentage increased annually, from 0.005% (2010) to 0.070% (2022). Of 999 HBGA calls, 99.4% (n = 993) were dog exposures. Over 65% (n = 655) of calls were made July–September, largely from the New England (n = 154 (15.4%)) and Pacific (n = 129 (12.9.%)) geographic divisions. Oral and dermal exposures predominated (n = 956 (95.7%)). Harmful algal bloom news publications increased overall, peaking in 2019 (n = 1834). Higher call volumes in summer and in the New England and Pacific geographic divisions drove HBGA call increases; public awareness might have contributed. Dogs and humans have similar exposure routes. ASPCA APCC HBGA call data could serve as a public health information source.
ISSN:2072-6651
2072-6651
DOI:10.3390/toxins15080505