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The Palm Beach Post

January 24, 1998, Saturday, FINAL EDITION

SECTION: LOCAL, Pg. 1B

LENGTH: 631 words

HEADLINE: RED TIDE ALGAE HAVE AREA BEACH-GOERS FEELING A BIT GREEN

BYLINE: Robert P. King; Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

BODY:

Adele Nelson noticed it a few days ago: the coughing, the runny nose, the feeling of inhaling something strange.

''This is crazy,'' said Nelson, who lives just off the Atlantic Ocean in Gulf Stream. ''I'm breathing fresh ocean air.''

Or so she thought. She didn't know that red tide was back.

The toxin-producing algae, best known for killing fish and tormenting tourists on Florida's Gulf Coast, is making a cameo appearance in Palm Beach County. State health officials say they've fielded complaints since Wednesday from Delray Beach to Palm Beach, especially from lifeguards with red eyes and scratchy throats.

They have received no reports of casualties, either fish or human. But one Delray lifeguard wound up in a walk-in clinic to get some antibiotic eye drops, city Ocean Rescue Lt. Eric Feld said Friday.

''We're all hacking pretty badly,'' said Mark Myhre, captain of Lake Worth's beach patrol.

Here's the bright spot: With such lousy weather and Portuguese man-of-war all over the place, who wants to go to the beach anyway?

Red tide is a frequent plague on beaches south of Tampa Bay, where the algae have been known to linger for as long as 19 months. But state experts say this is only the fifth time they know of since 1972 that currents have pushed the red tide around the Florida Straits and up the east coast.

''It's not really that unusual anymore,'' said Beverly Roberts, research administrator at the Florida Marine Research Institute in St. Petersburg.

Red tide's last visit here was a twoto three-day outbreak from Jupiter to Singer Island in November, said Ajaya Satyal, environmental manager for the Palm Beach County Health Department. That bloom also afflicted Martin and St. Lucie counties.

Roberts couldn't say how long this outbreak will last. But she said Atlantic blooms never have lasted more than three or four weeks.

The state said red tide samples taken Wednesday at Lake Worth beach showed only low concentrations - enough to trouble some breathing and maybe kill a few fish. But it's far too low to turn the water red.

Health officials advised anyone suffering from asthma, emphysema or other respiratory problems to avoid beaches marked by red tide warnings.

They also said people shouldn't eat clams, mussels and other mollusks harvested in areas where the state has issued red tide warnings. Roberts said Palm Beach County has no open harvesting beds in affected areas.

Red tide is back - people stand back

What is it? Gymnodinium breve, a type of one-celled algae that produces a powerful nerve toxin. Nicknamed " red tide. "

What does it do? In heavy concentrations, its poison can kill fish, turtles and manatees. It also wafts ashore on the breeze, causing people to cough, sneeze and suffer sore eyes, itchy throats and tingly lips.

Where does it come from? (1) Scientists think the algae start life in "seed beds" 40 to 80 miles off Florida's coast in the Gulf of Mexico. They rise to the surface and bloom. Currents in the Gulf carry them to Florida beaches, usually between Tampa Bay and Fort Myers. (2) Sometimes the Gulf Stream sweeps them around the Florida Keys (3) and up the Atlantic coast.

Why? Scientists aren't sure what makes the algae bloom, but Spanish explorers saw red tide in the Gulf as early as the 1530s. Researchers speculate that pollution might help cause or prolong the outbreaks.

Is it really red? Not always. Sometimes it tints the water red-brown or yellow-green. Right now it's too sparse to be visible.

What should you do? People with asthma, emphysema or other respiratory problems should avoid beaches where red tide warnings are posted.

Sources: Florida Department of Environmental Protection; Mote Marine Laboratory; Palm Beach County Health Department.

NOTES:

Info box at end of text. Did not run MSL.

GRAPHIC: MAP (C), ROB BARGE/Staff Artist, Existing outbreaks, Atlantic: Low levels off Palm Beach County from Delray Beach to Palm Beach; Hollywood in Broward County. Gulf: Present in parts of Lee and Collier counties. Also spotted 10-25 miles off Sarasota.

LOAD-DATE: January 31, 1998