Allergies Can Begin at Any Age
Buresh Blog: Just The Beginning Of The Pollen Season... South Florida Reefs... NOAA Coral Mapping
It's easy to become a member of our First Alert Neighborhood Weather Station Network:
It's still a bit early - especially considering the mid January cold snap - but we're getting indications of the very beginning of our pollen season. Cedar is usually the earliest & indeed that's the highest number (but still "only" moderate) from the real-time sampling by Dr. Brian Seymour, Edward Waters University. Unfortunately it's only up from here with timing of the peaks depending on exact weather conditions & especially temps. (Cedar first then Pine followed by Oak). Last year's winter & spring was very warm so the numbers peaked early - Cedar on Jan. 11th... PIne peaked on Feb. 1st... & Oak peaked March 8th. We're likely to see a later peak of each allergen this year.
From Miami University:
South Florida's Nearshore Reefs Less Vulnerable to Ocean Acidification, Study Finds
Results offer a glimmer of hope as climate change impacts coral reefs worldwide
Researchers studying South Florida's coral reefs found that the region's nearshore reefs and more sheltered inshore areas are less vulnerable to ocean acidification than previously thought – a major climate-related threat to coral reefs as ocean waters absorb more atmospheric CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels.
This new study, led by scientists at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) offers a glimmer of hope for Florida's iconic coral reefs as ocean acidification, along with marine heat waves and other climate-related threats are impacting coral reefs worldwide.
"In contrast to many regions globally where ocean acidification is being exacerbated, we found that South Florida's inshore reefs — and sheltered areas that co-exist with seagrass communities — are being buffered from the negative effects of acidification," said the study's lead author Ana Palacio-Castro, a researcher at the Rosenstiel School-based NOAA Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies.
Ocean waters absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide, which results in a drop in pH levels, turning the water more acidic. This resulting ocean acidification impacts the ability of a wide range of marine life —from corals to clams—to build and maintain their calcium-based shells and skeletons, and ultimately compromises the structural integrity of coral reefs and the marine life that rely on them.
In this study, the researchers analyzed 10 years of continuous seawater samples collected at 38 monitoring stations across the Florida Reef Tract to assess carbonate chemistry variability among seasons, years, and reef areas, including ocean acidification. They looked at differences between Biscayne Bay and the Upper, Middle, and Lower Keys, and the inshore, mid-channel, and offshore reef zones.
The results showed potential ocean acidification refugia in inshore reefs with neighboring seagrass meadows as a result of enhanced primary production, highlighting the importance of the relationship that exists between coral reef and seagrass ecosystems to mitigate the impacts of future climate changes.
The results also suggest that Florida's inshore reef structures could benefit from local mitigation strategies, such as reducing CO2 emissions, marine carbon dioxide removal or conserving intact seagrass meadows, according to the researchers.
"The findings underscore the importance of local monitoring to understand how ocean acidification is impacting our region and to identify potential acidification hotspots and refugia," said Ana Palacio-Castro.
The study, titled "Coral reef carbonate chemistry reveals interannual, seasonal, and spatial impacts on ocean acidification off Florida," was published in the American Geophysical Union journal Global Biogeochemical Cycles.
The project was supported by the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Research Program (SFER) at NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML)
Photo: Tyler Christian, Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies:
From NOAA - Multi-partner mapping effort reveals largest known deep-sea coral reef habitat...
Covering 6.4 million acres, an area larger than Vermont, an underwater seascape of cold-water coral mounds off the shore of the southeast United States coast has been deemed the largest deep-sea coral reef habitat discovered to date, according to a paper recently published in the scientific journal Geomatics.
"This strategic multiyear and multi-agency effort to systematically map and characterize the stunning coral ecosystem right on the doorstep of the U.S. East Coast is a perfect example of what we can accomplish when we pool resources and focus on exploring the approximately 50% of U.S. Marine waters that are still unmapped," says Derek Sowers, Ph.D., Mapping Operations Manager for the Ocean Exploration Trust and lead author of the study. "Approximately 75% of the global ocean is still unmapped in any kind of detail, but many organizations are working to change that. This study provides a methodology aimed at interpreting mapping data over large ocean regions for insights into seafloor habitats and advancing standardized approaches to classifying them to support ecosystem-based management and conservation efforts."
For the study, "Mapping and Geomorphic Characterization of the Vast Cold-Water Coral Mounds of the Blake Plateau," scientists synthesized bathymetric data from 31 multibeam sonar mapping surveys, the largest of which were led by NOAA Ocean Exploration, to produce a nearly complete map of the seafloor of the Blake Plateau, located about 100 miles off the southeast U.S. Coastline.
The study area that includes the coral reef is nearly the size of Florida. It is approximately 35-75 miles (60–120 km) offshore of the southeast coast beginning off Miami and stretching to the area offshore of Charleston, South Carolina. The authors used a standardized system developed as part of the study to classify, delineate and quantify coral mound features. This automated system identified 83,908 individual coral mound peak features in the mapping data, providing the first estimate of the overall number of potential cold-water coral mounds mapped in the region to date.
The study documents the massive scale of the coral province, an area composed of nearly continuous coral mound features that span up to 500 kilometers (310 miles) long and 110 kilometers (68 miles) wide, with a core area of high-density mounds up to 254 kilometers (158 miles) long and 42 kilometers (26 miles) wide. The results also highlight how different regions of the Blake Plateau exhibit large variations in the density, height and pattern of coral mound formation.
Data analyzed, which included imagery from 23 submersible dives in addition to mapping data, were collected as part of a coordinated, multi-year ocean exploration campaign involving NOAA Ocean Exploration, NOAA Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute partners Ocean Exploration Trust and the University of New Hampshire, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Temple University, and the U.S. Geological Survey, with contributions from Fugro, the NOAA Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program, and the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council.
The largest area, nicknamed "Million Mounds" by scientists, is primarily made up of Desmophyllum pertusum (previously called Lophelia pertusa), a stony coral most commonly found at depths between 200 - 1,000 meters (656 - 3,280 feet), where waters have an average temperature of 4°C (39°F). Cold-water corals such as these grow in the deep ocean where there is no sunlight and survive by filter-feeding biological particles. While they are known to be important ecosystem engineers, creating structures that provide shelter, food and nursery habitat to other invertebrates and fish, these corals remain poorly understood.
Studies such as this one provide a better understanding of how populations of corals and other deep-sea species may be related across geographically separated locales (a concept known as connectivity) which in turn can offer insight into the resiliency of these populations. This is important for predicting the impacts of human activities on coral communities and for developing plans for their protection.
"For years we thought much of the Blake Plateau was sparsely inhabited, soft sediment, but after more than 10 years of systematic mapping and exploration, we have revealed one of the largest deep-sea coral reef habitats found to date anywhere in the world," said Kasey Cantwell, operations chief for NOAA Ocean Exploration. "Past studies have highlighted some coral in the region, particularly closer to the coast and in shallower waters, but until we had a complete map of the region, we didn't know how extensive this habitat was, nor how many of these coral mounds were connected. This discovery highlights the importance of exploring our deepwater backyard and the power of interagency collaboration and public-private partnerships."
Allergy Alert: What New Guidelines On Anaphylaxis Could Mean For You
by Todd A. Mahr, MD, Executive Medical Director, American College Of Allergy, Asthma And Immunology
If you or someone close to you suffers from severe allergic reactions, you have probably heard there are new recommendations out that offer guidance on the diagnosis, management and treatment of anaphylaxis.
The latest guidelines come from Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters, a partnership between the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Allergist Dr. Jay Lieberman, task force co-chair and one of the experts who worked on the guidelines, understands that patients who have experienced anaphylaxis may have questions.
"I think one of the biggest changes that the new practice parameter addresses is whether patients must go to the emergency room if they use their epinephrine autoinjector," Lieberman said. "In the past, it was sort of 'set in stone' that if you used epinephrine, you should automatically contact emergency medical services [EMS] afterward or go to the emergency room."
"However, our new guidelines suggest that immediately calling EMS may not be required if you experience prompt, complete and long-lasting response to treatment with epinephrine," he added. "The recommendation only applies if additional epinephrine and medical care are readily available, if needed."
But the guidelines also point out that if the patient is not improving, they should still go to the emergency room or contact EMS.
"The recommendation to not automatically contact EMS hopefully takes away a burden that many patients express; that they sometimes do not want to use epinephrine because they do not want to have to go to the emergency room," Lieberman added.
"We want to minimize barriers to the use of epinephrine. Of course, if a patient or family has any concerns, they should still contact EMS. But the new guideline allows for more options."
The parameter still recommends physicians counsel patients on epinephrine use and to use it at the first sign of suspected anaphylaxis; but it also suggests that, in general, allergists and other clinicians counsel patients or caregivers to not give epinephrine to a patient who doesn't have symptoms if they've been in contact with something to which they're allergic.
There are many other recommendations in the guidelines on the diagnosis of anaphylaxis, including awareness that the presentation of anaphylaxis may be different in infants. There also are recommendations on how best to manage anaphylaxis in the community—such as in schools and day care settings—that may be of interest to caregivers and institutions alike.
It's important to remember that epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis, and epinephrine auto injectors (EAIs) allow patients to have this emergency medication available outside the medical setting. A patient's risk factors for severe anaphylaxis, their values and preferences, and the burden of both anaphylaxis and EAI prescription are important factors to consider when deciding whether to prescribe EAIs, and how many to prescribe.
Patients with the following are at higher likelihood of requiring treatment with their prescribed EAI:
The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology says that although there are a variety of EAIs at a range of prices, the most important thing is for you to have a device you can carry with you, that you can afford, and that you know how to use and when to use it.
The bottom line: These new guidelines give updated information to help you best respond to anaphylaxis. Patients should talk with their allergy specialist before making any changes to their treatment plan. They should also be sure to communicate any changes in their "in case of anaphylaxis" plan to their families, caregivers and schools.
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Chattanooga Doctor Explains Why Your Allergies May Seem Worse In Winter
Advertisement AdvertisementJanuary 22, 2024 at 9:00 p.M.
Dr. Taylor AtchleyQ: My allergies seem to be worse now than in the spring. Is there a reason why?
A: As the winter chill sets in, many of us find ourselves spending more time inside our homes compared to other times of the year. For those with certain indoor allergies, the worsening of your allergy symptoms when you are indoors more often makes sense.
For example, many of us love the company of our furry friends. However, allergies to pet dander are very common, and spending more time indoors among our pets may be contributing to worsening allergy symptoms.
Another example is dust mite allergy. Dust mites are microscopic insects that live in the soft, fluffy materials in our homes, such as mattresses, pillows, carpets and stuffed animals.
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