
The University of Michigan has snagged a substantial $6.5 million federal grant, intent on uncovering the not-so-mysterious anymore links between climate change and the increasingly prevalent harmful algal blooms across the Great Lakes, and their implications for human health. According to the University of Michigan Office of the Vice President for Communications, this five-year bounty will support the Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health, an initiative examining the toxic effects of cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae.
Delving into the actual danger behind the eerie green tinge of our waters, the grant aims to answer pressing questions about the impact of climate change on these harmful blooms and their associated human health hazards. Instances of these algal scares have spiked, courtesy of a perfect storm of climbing temperatures, wilder storms, and the resulting runoff. George Bullerjahn, a revered Great Lakes scientist from Bowling Green State University, passed the helm of this initiative to U-M following his move to emeritus status, as reported by Toledo Blade.
These blooms aren't just an environmental eyesore; they are creators of toxins that can have severe health repercussions. From respiratory issues mimicking asthma to gastrointestinal distress, and even an increased risk for liver damage, the human cost of these algal blooms cannot be overstated. Microscopic threats now loom large as researchers also zero in on the potential for airborne toxins, a budding area of concern highlighted by Click on Detroit. It's clear that our interactions with cHABs go beyond just the water we may, or may not, dive into.
At the research's forefront, Gregory Dick of the University of Michigan now spearheads the center and conveys the dire need to understand these blooms as "a growing threat to freshwater ecosystems, drinking water supplies and coastal communities worldwide." Moreover, with over 28 researchers and a fleet of students on board, they hope to navigate the murky waters of policy implications and community safeguards. According to the University of Michigan Office of the Vice President for Communications, new technologies for cHAB monitoring and forecasting are also on the agenda.