Dispersion and stratification of Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface and deep-water profiles: A case study of the Biscayne Bay area

Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemical compounds known for their persistent, bioaccumulation and toxic characteristics in all environmental compartments. As industrial and domestic applications of PFAS increase, their discharge into water bodies becomes of human and ecological concerns. Our research focuses on providing better understanding on the occurrence, vertical distribution, and dispersion of PFAS in surface and bottom water from inshore and offshore area of Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida. We screened a total of 30 PFAS from inshore (N = 38) and offshore (N = 48) water samples using a semi-automated solid phase extraction (SPE) followed by instrumental analysis using Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques (LC-MS/MS). Our findings show a general surface-enrichment and depth-depletion pattern from inshore to offshore area. Average ∑PFAS loadings inshore (surface vs bottom; 29.52 ± 15.26 ng/L vs 21.45 ± 7.85 ng/L) is significantly greater than offshore (surface vs bottom; 5.18 ± 2.68 ng/L vs 2.42 ± 2.11 ng/L). PFOS had the highest mean concentration both inshore (6.36 ± 4.23 ng/L) and offshore (0.83 ± 0.87 ng/L). The most frequently detected (D·F > 91 %) PFAS are Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) and Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) in surface water samples. PFOS/PFOA >1 suggests that point sources are the major contribution to PFAS burden in the Biscayne Bay. An innovative Inverse distance weighted interpolation (IDW) special modelling approach was implemented to predict the potential contribution of oceanic current on the dispersion of ∑PFAS loadings in surface and bottom profiles from canals (inshore) to offshore areas. This will provide insights into transport mechanisms of PFAS from source emissions, and risk assessments of potential impacts on human and aquatic life in the Bay.

A qualitative community health assessment of HIV prevention awareness in a semi-rural Latinx seasonal farm working community in South Florida

This article explores HIV awareness and prevention in a Latinx seasonal farmworker community of south Miami-Dade County in the USA. The study took place as part of a larger community assessment that aimed to determine community needs and resources related to substance abuse, violence and HIV in the Latinx seasonal farmworker communities of south Miami-Dade County, with a particular focus on fathers' and their male sons' relationships. The study collected data on HIV knowledge and prevention, healthcare-seeking behaviours, cultural norms, and communication barriers about HIV prevention between fathers and sons. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with community leaders, two focus groups with social and health services providers, and four focus groups involving fathers and their adolescent sons. A deductive approach to data analysis was undertaken. Five major themes were identified: (1) HIVrelated knowledge and perception; (2) HIV prevention strategies; (3) barriers and needs for tailored preventive health and care services in the community; (4) stress over sex-related communication; and (5) the dominance of traditional masculine gender norms in the household and the community.

Estimating Structural Damage to Mangrove Forests Using Airborne Lidar Imagery: Case Study of Damage Induced by the 2017 Hurricane Irma to Mangroves in the Florida Everglades, USA

In September 2017, Hurricane Irma made landfall in South Florida, causing a great deal of damage to mangrove forests along the southwest coast. A combination of hurricane strength winds and high storm surge across the area resulted in canopy defoliation, broken branches, and downed trees. Evaluating changes in mangrove forest structure is significant, as a loss or change in mangrove forest structure can lead to loss in the ecosystems services that they provide. In this study, we used lidar remote sensing technology and field data to assess damage to the South Florida mangrove forests from Hurricane Irma. Lidar data provided an opportunity to investigate changes in mangrove forests using 3D high-resolution data to assess hurricane-induced changes at different tree structure levels. Using lidar data in conjunction with field observations, we were able to model aboveground necromass (AGN; standing dead trees) on a regional scale across the Shark River and Harney River within Everglades National Park. AGN estimates were higher in the mouth and downstream section of Shark River and higher in the downstream section of the Harney River, with higher impact observed in Shark River. Mean AGN estimates were 46 Mg/ha in Shark River and 38 Mg/ha in Harney River and an average loss of 29% in biomass, showing a significant damage when compared to other areas impacted by Hurricane Irma and previous disturbances in our study region.

Change and stasis of distinct sediment microbiomes across Port Everglades Inlet (PEI) and the adjacent coral reefs

Deep water ports are human built coastal structures that by definition welcome ship traffic and disturbance. Evidence is accumulating that enhanced port activities such as dredging or deepening have negatively affected nearby natural habitats. Port Everglades Inlet (PEI) is a large active South Florida cargo port for over two million people and lies adjacent to coral reefs, dwindling mangroves, and recreational beaches. In this study, the microbial communities of PEI and adjacent reef sediments were characterized to serve as indicators for change due to dredging and assess anthropogenic influence on these sensitive ecosystems by sequencing the V4 region of 16S rRNA ahead of a large-scale port deepening event. For the first time, this study established baseline bacterial community characterizations and their patterns of diversity prior to and after a maintenance dredging event. PEI samples were collected for two consecutive years 2020 (Phase I, before maintenance dredging) and 2021 (Phase II, after maintenance dredging) from PEI sediments and adjacent coral reef sediments. In spite of their proximity and tidal connections through the PEI, reef and PEI sediment microbial communities were distinct. Changes in microbial diversity within the intracoastal waterway (ICW), a route for community exchange or transfers, were the greatest after maintenance dredging occurred. Microbial diversity in reef sediments also changed after dredging, indicating potential influence from resuspended sediments due to an associated increase in trace metals and decrease in cyanobacterial diversity. Sediments were identified as a possible source of human and coral pathogens, although dredging did not affect the relative abundances of these indicator microorganisms. This study highlighted the utility and relative ease of applying current molecular ecology methods to address macroscale questions with environmental management ramifications.

Clinical presentation of Monkeypox among people living with HIV in South Florida: a case series

INTRODUCTION

Monkeypox, historically a zoonotic disease caused by monkeypox virus, is a new global health emergency. Since May 2022, dozens of non-endemic countries have seen new cases with rapid spread. Generally a self-limited disease, there are vulnerable populations, in which severe or deadly illness can occur. There is limited data on immunocompromised patients in this outbreak, particularly on people living with HIV, who are disproportionately affected.

METHODS

We reported seven cases of monkeypox in people living with HIV in South Florida, USA. Relevant demographic, epidemiologic and clinical data were described.

RESULTS

All the patients were men, identified as gay or bisexual, and were on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) for HIV. Six of the seven had CD4 counts more than 200 cells/mm³ (one unknown level), and one of the seven had detectable HIV viral load. Six had sexual or intimate contact with asymptomatic partners prior to development of symptoms. Two were hospitalized, one for proctitis and one for an increasing number of lesions. Six had disseminated lesions and one had localized perianal lesions and all had 5-25 total number of lesions. Five received tecovirimat with resolution of lesions in 2-14 days and all were doing well at the time of the present report. Close contacts received the Jynneos vaccine which was well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

Our case series described monkeypox in people living with HIV and have noted atypical symptoms (lack of fever and more notable anogenital lesions) and relatively mild course as described in HIV seronegative patients. We stress the importance of early detection and isolation as well as vaccination to contacts, which has been well tolerated. In our case series, we are unable to estimate the effectiveness of tecovirimat given the limited number of patients, but all our patients had lesions that resolved within two weeks of rash onset and had no side effects reported.

Monitoring partially marked populations using camera and telemetry data

Long-term monitoring is an important component of effective wildlife conservation. However, many methods for estimating density are too costly or difficult to implement over large spatial and temporal extents. Recently developed spatial mark-resight (SMR) models are increasingly being applied as a cost-effective method to estimate density when data include detections of both marked and unmarked individuals. We developed a generalized SMR model that can accommodate long-term camera data and auxiliary telemetry data for improved spatiotemporal inference in monitoring efforts. The model can be applied in two stages, with detection parameters estimated in the first stage using telemetry data and camera detections of instrumented individuals. Density is estimated in the second stage using camera data, with all individuals treated as unmarked. Serial correlation in detection and density parameters is accounted for using time-series models. The two-stage approach reduces computational demands and facilitates the application to large data sets from long-term monitoring initiatives. We applied the model to 3 years (2015-2017) of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) data collected in three study areas of the Big Cypress Basin, Florida, USA. In total, 59 females marked with ear tags and fitted with GPS-telemetry collars were detected along with unmarked females on 180 remote cameras. Most of the temporal variation in density was driven by seasonal fluctuations, but one study area exhibited a slight population decline during the monitoring period. Modern technologies such as camera traps provide novel possibilities for long-term monitoring, but the resulting massive data sets, which are subject to unique sources of observation error, have posed analytical challenges. The two-stage spatial mark-resight framework provides a solution with lower computational demands than joint SMR models, allowing for easier implementation in practice. In addition, after detection parameters have been estimated, the model may be used to estimate density even if no synchronous auxiliary information on marked individuals is available, which is often the case in long-term monitoring.

Differential Organic Contaminant Ionization Source Detection and Identification in Environmental Waters by Nontargeted Analysis

The development of nontargeted analysis (NTA) methods to assess environmental contaminants of emerging concern, which are not commonly monitored, is paramount, especially when no previous knowledge on the identity of the pollution source is available. We compared complementary ionization techniques, namely electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), in the detection and identification of organic contaminants in tap and surface waters from South Florida. Furthermore, the performance of a simple rationalized NTA method was assessed by analyzing 10 complex mixtures as part of the US Environmental Protection Agency's Non-targeted Analysis Collaborative Trial interlaboratory study, where limitations of the NTA approach have been identified (e.g., number of employed databases, false positives). Different water bodies displayed unique chemical features that can be used as chemical fingerprints for source tracking and discrimination. The APCI technique detected at least threefold as many chemical features as ESI in environmental water samples, corroborating the fact that APCI is more energetic and can ionize certain classes of compounds that are traditionally difficult to ionize by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Kendrick mass defect plots and Van Krevelen diagrams were applied to elucidate unique patterns and theoretical chemical space regions of anthropogenic organic compounds belonging to homologous series or similar classes covered by ESI and APCI. Overall, APCI and ESI were established as complementary, expanding the detected NTA chemical space which would otherwise be underestimated by a single ionization source operated in a single polarity setting. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1154-1164. © 2021 SETAC.

Harvesting Health Knowledge: Breast Cancer Perceptions in the South Florida Latinx Farmworker Community

South Florida agricultural regions, home to Latinx immigrant farmworkers, report higher rates of late-stage breast cancer diagnosis than national, state, and county-level averages. We conducted a community-based qualitative study on the needs, health knowledge gaps, barriers to breast cancer screening, and the role of community health workers (CHWs) in supporting the community's access to early detection services. We conducted three CHW focus groups (FGs) (n = 25) and in-depth interviews (n = 15), two FGs (n = 18) and in-depth interviews (n = 3) with farmworker community members, and informal interviews with cancer clinicians (n = 7). Using a grounded theory approach, five core themes regarding the community's barriers to accessing health care services emerged: (a) lack of information; (b) social and economic barriers; (c) cultural factors; (d) fears and mistrust; and (e) psychosocial concerns. Findings yield implications for community health practice, the potential impact of CHWs, and the production of breast cancer education to improve health equity along with the care continuum.

Understanding the occurrence and distribution of emerging pollutants and endocrine disruptors in sensitive coastal South Florida Ecosystems

Environmental exposure risk to different xenobiotics, which can potentially alter the function of the endocrine system, remains a great health and safety concern for aquatic species and humans. Steroid hormones, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have been identified as important aquatic contaminants due to their widespread occurrence in surface waters and their endocrine disrupting properties. Heavily populated areas in South Florida not served by municipal wastewater collection present an unexpected high risk of anthropogenic contaminants to nearby coastal systems through surface runoff and groundwater flow. Previous studies in South Florida have been largely concentrated on assessing the relevance of the fate and transport of inorganic nutrients, heavy metals and pesticides with regulatory criteria. Therefore, a significant gap exists in assessing occurrence, distribution and biological significance of the presence of human related organic contaminants in natural surface waters. In this study, we have developed a fast and sensitive online solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-HRMS) method using a Q-Exactive system for the determination of the occurrence and distribution of selected wastewater tracers/indicators, recalcitrant PPCPs and steroid hormones in South Florida surface waters. Seasonal and spatial variations of these contaminants were monitored from 2017 to 2019. The presence of total coliforms and E. coli were also evaluated in order to further assess water quality. Correlations between hormones and anthropogenic tracers were explored to better elucidate the sources, pathways and exposure risks to these contaminants. Caffeine, sucralose, Diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) and carbamazepine were frequently detected in the water samples, which is indicative of extensive wastewater intrusion impacting the surface water. Estrone (E1), 17-β-estradiol (E2), and 17-α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) levels found in surface water raises concern of potential endocrine disruption effects in the aquatic ecosystem. Hazard quotient has been calculated to identify areas with high ecological risks to aquatic organisms.

Exposure to Aerosolized Algal Toxins in South Florida Increases Short- and Long-Term Health Risk in Drosophila Model of Aging

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a rising health and environmental concern in the United States, particularly in South Florida. Skin contact and the ingestion of contaminated water or fish and other seafood have been proven to have severe toxicity to humans in some cases. However, the impact of aerosolized HAB toxins is poorly understood. In particular, knowledge regarding either the immediate or long-term effects of exposure to aerosolized cyanotoxins produced by freshwater blue-green algae does not exist. The aim of this study was to probe the toxicity of aerosolized cyanobacterial blooms using Drosophila melanogaster as an animal model. The exposure of aerosolized HABs at an early age leads to the most severe long-term impact on health and longevity among all age groups. Young groups and old males showed a strong acute response to HAB exposure. In addition, brain morphological analysis using fluorescence imaging reveals significant indications of brain degeneration in females exposed to aerosolized HABs in early or late stages. These results indicate that one-time exposure to aerosolized HAB particles causes a significant health risk, both immediately and in the long-term. Interestingly, age at the time of exposure plays an important role in the specific nature of the impact of aerosol HABs. As BMAA and microcystin have been found to be the significant toxins in cyanobacteria, the concentration of both toxins in the water and aerosols was examined. BMAA and microcystin are consistently detected in HAB waters, although their concentrations do not always correlate with the severity of the health impact, suggesting the potential contribution from additional toxins present in the aerosolized HAB. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the health risk of exposure to aerosolized HAB, and further highlights the critical need and importance of understanding the toxicity of aerosolized cyanobacteria HAB particles and determining the immediate and long-term health impacts of HAB exposure.

Epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in hospitals of a large healthcare system in Miami, Florida from 2012 to 2016: Five years of experience with an internal registry

BACKGROUND

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is an urgent public health threat globally. Limited data are available regarding the epidemiology of CRE in South Florida. We describe the epidemiology of CRE within a large public healthcare system in Miami, FL, the experience with an internal registry, active surveillance testing, and the impact of infection prevention practices.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study in 4 hospitals from a large healthcare system in Miami-Dade County, FL from 2012 to 2016. The internal registry included all CRE cases from active surveillance testing from rectal and/or tracheal screening occurring in the intensive care units of 2 of the hospitals and clinical cultures across the healthcare system. All CRE cases were tagged in the electronic medical record and automatically entered into a platform for automatic infection control surveillance. The system alerted about new cases, readmissions, and transfers.

RESULTS

A total of 371 CRE cases were identified. The overall prevalence was 0.077 cases per 100 patient-admissions; the admission prevalence was 0.019 per 100 patient-admissions, and the incidence density was 1.46 cases per 10,000 patient-days. Rates increased during the first 3 years of the study and declined later to a lower level than at the beginning of study period.

CONCLUSIONS

Active surveillance testing and the use of an internal registry facilitated prompt identification of cases contributing to control increasing rates of CRE by rapid implementation of infection prevention strategies.

A tropical eastern Pacific invasive brittle star species (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) reaches southeastern Florida

The invasive brittle star Ophiothela mirabilis (family Ophiotrichidae), a tropical Indo-Pacific endemic species, first reported in Atlantic waters off southern Brazil in 2000, has extended its range northward to the Caribbean Sea, to the Lesser Antilles in 2011, and was first reported in south Florida in January 2019. Its occurrence in southeast Florida extends along nearly 70km of coastline, from near the Port of Miami, Miami-Dade County, northward to Deerfield Beach, Broward County. It occurs abundantly as an epizoite on octocorals, attaining population densities of 25 individuals and more per 10-cm long octocoral stem. The surface texture of octocoral hosts (rough, smooth) did not affect the densities of the ophiuroid epizoites, and there were significantly greater abundances on octocorals during two winter sampling periods than in the summer. Beige and orange-coloured morphs are sometimes present on the same octocoral stem. Gut content analysis supported a suspension feeding mode, revealing essentially identical ingested items in both colour morphs with a preponderance of amorphous detritus and filamentous algae. Molecular genetic evidence (COI & 16s) has established the identity of O. mirabilis and its relationship to invasive Brazilian populations. The orange and beige morphs form two distinct, but closely related lineages that may represent two separate introductions. The orange morph shares haplotypes with Brazilian and Caribbean specimens suggesting a further range expansion of the 'original' invasion. The beige morph, however, shares haplotypes with specimens from the Mexican Pacific and Peru and potentially represents a secondary introduction. Traits promoting dispersal and establishment of this species in new habitats are manifold: vagility and ability to cling tightly to diverse host taxa (e.g. sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, and echinoderms), frequent asexual reproduction (fissiparity), suspension feeding, including a wide range of dietary items, possession of integument-covered ossicles and arm spines offering protection from predators, and an effective competitive edge over associated microbiota for substrate space.

Disparities of HIV risk and PrEP use among transgender women of color in South Florida

BACKGROUND

The majority of the transgender female population in South Florida are Latina and Black, and are at greatest risk for acquiring HIV, yet there is limited research focused on South Florida transgender women of color. The study objective was to describe the disparities among racial/ethnic minority transgender women regarding HIV screening, pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) knowledge and PrEP utilization.

METHODS

Sixty transgender women, recruited from South Florida community-based organizations, completed a questionnaire on HIV prevention and PrEP awareness and use. Univariate statistics were generated to describe sexual risk behavior, PrEP awareness and use, and HIV screening by race/ethnicity.

RESULTS

Of the 60 participants, 50.0% were Latina, 35.0% African American/non-Hispanic Black (AA/NHB), 11.7% white and 3.3% other race/ethnicity. 75.0% reported being screened for HIV in the last 12 months, 15.3% of the participants reported living with HIV (PLWH), while 18.6% reported an unknown status. Compared to Latinas, AA/NHB demonstrated more risk (≥2 sexual partners: 76.2% vs 53.3%; transactional sex: 47.6% vs. 26.7%; unprotected receptive anal sex: 42.9% v. 26.7%), and more engagement in routine care (81.0% vs. 76.7%) at least once a year. PrEP knowledge was 76.7% among Latinas, 71.4% among whites, 47.6% among Blacks, and 50.0% among other race/ethnicity. 65.0% of participants knew about PrEP. Of the 8.2% with current or previous PrEP use, none were AA/NHB.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that education and public health campaigns in South Florida that promote HIV prevention should focus on increasing awareness and utilization of PrEP among racial/ethnic minority transgender, particularly among AA/NHB transgender women who are most at risk and had the lowest knowledge and use of PrEP.

A hydro-economic model of South Florida water resources system

South Florida's water infrastructure and ecosystems are under pressure from socio-economic growth. Understanding the region's water resources management tradeoffs is essential for developing effective adaptation strategies to cope with emerging challenges such as climate change and sea level rise, which are expected to affect many other regions in the future. We describe a network-based hydro-economic optimization model of the system to investigate the tradeoffs, incorporating the economic value of water in urban and agricultural sectors and economic damages due to urban flooding while also accounting for water supply to sustain fragile ecosystems such as the Everglades and coastal estuaries. Results illustrate that maintaining high reliability of urban water supply under scenarios of reduced water availability (i.e., drier climate conditions) may trigger economic losses to the Everglades Agricultural Area, which will likely become more vulnerable as competition over scarce water resources increases. More pronounced economic losses are expected in urban and agricultural areas when flows to the Everglades are prioritized. Flow targets for coastal estuaries are occasionally exceeded under optimal flow allocations to various demand nodes, indicating that additional storage may be needed to maintain the environmental integrity of the estuarine ecosystems. Wetter climate conditions, on the other hand, generally lead to increased flows throughout the system with positive effects on meeting water demands, although flood mitigation efforts will necessitate additional releases to the estuaries. Strengths and limitations of the hydro-economic model are discussed.

Spatial-temporal variations of dissolved organic nitrogen molecular composition in agricultural runoff water

Leaching of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) has been reported as a pathway of N loss from agriculture, but the molecular composition of DON in agricultural water is poorly understood. Runoff water samples were collected from citrus grove furrows (CGF), ditches (CGD) and pasture ditches (PD) in four seasons. Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) was used to investigate molecular composition of DON. Chemodiversity index of DON had spatiotemporal variations, while the molecular composition of total DON showed minimal variations, except for PD in November. Lignin derivatives constituted 61% of the total DON compounds. Relative abundance of aliphatic compounds, char and condensed aromatics of unique DON compounds varied spatiotemporally and had a significant correlation with DON concentration. Aromaticity index decreased from CGF to connected CGD, implying that photodegradation is possibly the dominant process that alters molecular composition of aquatic DON during the transport. Significant differences in unique DON composition between CGD and PD indicates that fertilization and land use affect DON composition. The information on molecular characterization of DON should be useful for tracking DON source and developing technologies to remove DON in the agricultural runoff water.

Economic impacts of urban flooding in South Florida: Potential consequences of managing groundwater to prevent salt water intrusion

High-value urban zones in coastal South Florida are considered particularly vulnerable to salt water intrusion into the groundwater-based, public water supplies caused by sea level rise (SLR) in combination with the low topography, existing high water table, and permeable karst substrate. Managers in the region closely regulate water depths in the extensive South Florida canal network to control closely coupled groundwater levels and thereby reduce the risk of saltwater intrusion into the karst aquifer. Potential SLR adaptation strategies developed by local managers suggest canal and groundwater levels may have to be increased over time to prevent the increased salt water intrusion risk to groundwater resources. However, higher canal and groundwater levels cause the loss of unsaturated zone storage and lead to an increased risk of inland flooding when the recharge from rainfall exceeds the capacity of the unsaturated zone to absorb it and the water table reaches the surface. Consequently, higher canal and groundwater levels are also associated with increased risk of economic losses, especially during the annual wet seasons. To help water managers and urban planners in this region better understand this trade-off, this study models the relationships between flood insurance claims and groundwater levels in Miami-Dade County. Via regression analyses, we relate the incurred number of monthly flood claims in 16 Miami-Dade County watersheds to monthly groundwater levels over the period from 1996 to 2010. We utilize these estimated statistical relationships to further illustrate various monthly flood loss scenarios that could plausibly result, thereby providing an economic quantification of a "too much water" trade-off. Importantly, this understanding is the first of its kind in South Florida and is exceedingly useful for regional-scale hydro-economic optimization models analyzing trade-offs associated with high water levels.

Spatial variation in the accumulation of POPs and mercury in bottlenose dolphins of the Lower Florida Keys and the coastal Everglades (South Florida)

The bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is an upper trophic level predator and the most common cetacean species found in nearshore waters of southern Florida, including the Lower Florida Keys (LFK) and the Florida Coastal Everglades (FCE). The objective of this study was to assess contamination levels of total mercury (T-Hg) in skin and persistent organic pollutants (PCBs, PBDEs, DDXs, HCHs, HCB, Σ PCDD/Fs and Σ DL-PCBs) in blubber samples of bottlenose dolphins from LFK (n = 27) and FCE (n = 24). PCBs were the major class of compounds found in bottlenose dolphin blubber and were higher in individuals from LFK (Σ 6 PCBs LFK males: 13,421 ± 7730 ng g^-1 lipids, Σ 6 PCBs LFK females: 9683 ± 19,007 ng g^-1 lipids) than from FCE (Σ 6 PCBs FCE males: 5638 ng g^-1 ± 3627 lipids, Σ 6 PCBs FCE females: 1427 ± 908 ng g^-1 lipids). These levels were lower than previously published data from the southeastern USA. The Σ DL-PCBs were the most prevalent pollutants of dioxin and dioxin like compounds (Σ DL-PCBs LFK: 739 ng g^-1 lipids, Σ DL-PCBs FCE: 183 ng g^-1 lipids) since PCDD/F concentrations were low for both locations (mean 0.1 ng g^-1 lipids for LFK and FCE dolphins). The toxicity equivalences of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs expressed as TEQ in LFK and FCE dolphins is mainly expressed by DL-PCBs (81% LFK - 65% FCE). T-Hg concentrations in skin were significantly higher in FCE (FCE median 9314 ng g^-1 dw) compared to LFK dolphins (LFK median 2941 ng g^-1 dw). These concentrations are the highest recorded in bottlenose dolphins in the southeastern USA, and may be explained, at least partially, by the biogeochemistry of the Everglades and mangrove sedimentary habitats that create favourable conditions for the retention of mercury and make it available at high concentrations for aquatic predators.

Water quality assessment and apportionment of pollution sources using APCS-MLR and PMF receptor modeling techniques in three major rivers of South Florida

In this study, principal component analysis (PCA), factor analysis (FA), and the absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) receptor modeling technique were used to assess the water quality and identify and quantify the potential pollution sources affecting the water quality of three major rivers of South Florida. For this purpose, 15years (2000-2014) dataset of 12 water quality variables covering 16 monitoring stations, and approximately 35,000 observations was used. The PCA/FA method identified five and four potential pollution sources in wet and dry seasons, respectively, and the effective mechanisms, rules and causes were explained. The APCS-MLR apportioned their contributions to each water quality variable. Results showed that the point source pollution discharges from anthropogenic factors due to the discharge of agriculture waste and domestic and industrial wastewater were the major sources of river water contamination. Also, the studied variables were categorized into three groups of nutrients (total kjeldahl nitrogen, total phosphorus, total phosphate, and ammonia-N), water murkiness conducive parameters (total suspended solids, turbidity, and chlorophyll-a), and salt ions (magnesium, chloride, and sodium), and average contributions of different potential pollution sources to these categories were considered separately. The data matrix was also subjected to PMF receptor model using the EPA PMF-5.0 program and the two-way model described was performed for the PMF analyses. Comparison of the obtained results of PMF and APCS-MLR models showed that there were some significant differences in estimated contribution for each potential pollution source, especially in the wet season. Eventually, it was concluded that the APCS-MLR receptor modeling approach appears to be more physically plausible for the current study. It is believed that the results of apportionment could be very useful to the local authorities for the control and management of pollution and better protection of important riverine water quality.

A profile of Latinos with poorly controlled diabetes in South Florida

INTRODUCTION

Latinos are the largest minority group in the United States and diabetes or pre-diabetes affects more than 70% of Latinos aged 45 years and older. Miami-Dade County is home to one of the highest populations of diverse Latinos. In this descriptive manuscript, we present baseline characteristics of participants enrolled in the Miami Healthy Heart Initiative (MHHI). This was a study conducted to determine the effects of a community health worker (CHW) intervention among Latinos with poorly controlled diabetes in South Florida.

METHODS

We recruited 300 diverse Latino adults with suboptimal diabetes outcomes (HbA1c≥8) into MHHI. This randomized control trial examined the impact of a 1-year CHW-led intervention on glycemic control, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. At baseline, physiologic measures, including HbA1c, LDL, blood pressure, and BMI, were assessed. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and additional determinants of health such as depression status, provider communication, diet, exercise, cigarette smoking, readiness to change diabetes management behaviors (stages of change), and confidence in ability to improve diabetes self-care (self-efficacy) were collected.

RESULTS

Participants came from 20 different countries, with Cuban Americans representing 38% of the sample. Most had lived in the US for more than 10 years, had completed at least 12 years of school, and had high levels of health literacy, yet 48% had very low acculturation. Nearly 80% had poor self-efficacy, 80% met the criteria for depression, and 83% were not adherent to their medications. More than half the population was not at their target for blood pressure, 50% were above the recommended LDL goal, and most were obese.

CONCLUSION

In a diverse population of Latinos with poorly controlled diabetes in Miami, we found high rates of depression, obesity, medication non-adherence, poor self-efficacy, and provider communication. These may contribute to poor diabetes control, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol.

Dynamics of marine bacterial community diversity of the coastal waters of the reefs, inlets, and wastewater outfalls of southeast Florida

Coastal waters adjacent to populated southeast Florida possess different habitats (reefs, oceanic inlets, sewage outfalls) that may affect the composition of their inherent microbiomes. To determine variation according to site, season, and depth, over the course of 1 year, we characterized the bacterioplankton communities within 38 nearshore seawater samples derived from the Florida Area Coastal Environment (FACE) water quality survey. Six distinct coastal locales were profiled – the Port Everglades and Hillsboro Inlets, Hollywood and Broward wastewater outfalls, and associated reef sites using culture-independent, high-throughput pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA V4 region. More than 227,000 sequences helped describe longitudinal taxonomic profiles of marine bacteria and archaea. There were 4447 unique operational taxonomic units (OTUs) identified with a mean OTU count of 5986 OTUs across all sites. Bacterial taxa varied significantly by season and by site using weighted and unweighted Unifrac, but depth was only supported by weighted Unifrac, suggesting a change due to presence/absence of certain OTUs. Abundant microbial taxa across all samples included Synechococcus, Pelagibacteraceae, Bacteroidetes, and various Proteobacteria. Unifrac analysis confirmed significant differences at inlet sites relative to reef and outfalls. Inlet-based bacterioplankton significantly differed in greater abundances of Rhodobacteraceae and Cryomorphaceae, and depletion of SAR406 sequences. This study also found higher counts of Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, and wastewater associated SBR1093 bacteria at the outfall and reef sites compared to inlet sites. This study profiles local bacterioplankton populations in a much broader context, beyond culturing and quantitative PCR, and expands upon the work completed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration FACE program.

Detection of cyanobacterial neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-l-alanine within shellfish in the diet of an ALS patient in Florida

Cyanobacteria produce the neurotoxic amino acid β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA), which in contaminated marine waters has been found to accumulate in shellfish. Exposure to BMAA has been associated with an increased risk of neurodegenerative disease. Analysis of blinded samples found BMAA to be present in neuroproteins of individuals who died from ALS and ALS/PDC, but generally not in the brains of patients who died of causes unrelated to neurodegeneration or Huntington's disease, an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease. We here report support for a link between a patient with ALS and chronic exposure to the cyanobacterial neurotoxin BMAA via shellfish consumption. The patient had frequently eaten lobsters collected in Florida Bay for approximately 30 years. LC-MS/MS analysis of two lobsters which this ALS patient had placed in his freezer revealed BMAA at concentrations of 27 and 4 μg/g, respectively, as well as the presence of 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB), a BMAA isomer. Two additional lobsters recently collected from Florida Bay also contained the neurotoxins BMAA and DAB. These data suggest that invertebrates collected in water where cyanobacterial blooms are present, if consumed, may result in direct human exposure to these neurotoxic amino acids. The data support the assertion that prolonged exposure to BMAA may have played a role in the etiology of ALS in this patient.

Total mercury concentrations in lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) from the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, USA

Strategies to control invasive lionfish in the western Atlantic and Caribbean are likely to include harvest and consumption. Until this report, total mercury concentrations had been documented only for lionfish from Jamaica, and changes in concentrations with increasing fish size had not been evaluated. In the Florida Keys, total mercury concentrations in dorsal muscle tissue from 107 lionfish ranged from 0.03 to 0.48 ppm, with all concentrations being less than the regulatory threshold for limited consumption. Mercury concentrations did not vary consistently with standard lengths or wet weights of lionfish. In 2010, lionfish from the upper Keys had mean concentrations that were 0.03-0.04 ppm higher than lionfish from the middle Keys, but mean concentrations did not differ consistently among years and locations. Overall, total mercury concentrations in lionfish were lower than those in several predatory fishes that support commercial and recreational fisheries in Florida.

Biogeochemical classification of South Florida's estuarine and coastal waters

South Florida's watersheds have endured a century of urban and agricultural development and disruption of their hydrology. Spatial characterization of South Florida's estuarine and coastal waters is important to Everglades' restoration programs. We applied Factor Analysis and Hierarchical Clustering of water quality data in tandem to characterize and spatially subdivide South Florida's coastal and estuarine waters. Segmentation rendered forty-four biogeochemically distinct water bodies whose spatial distribution is closely linked to geomorphology, circulation, benthic community pattern, and to water management. This segmentation has been adopted with minor changes by federal and state environmental agencies to derive numeric nutrient criteria.