The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Environmental Health (CDC/NCEH) is conducting a Cyanotoxins in Air Study, and people that live or work near Cape Coral canals, the Caloosahatchee River, Lake Okeechobee and St. Lucie River can participate. The study is seeking to find out if breathing in toxins made by cyanobacteria microorganisms, also known as blue-green algae, that grow in water can make people sick.

Candidates must be 18 years or older, spend at least two hours outside on most days of the week, be willing to participate in study activities that include having a lung function test and meeting with staff members multiple times when a bloom is present in their area through October. Participants will receive incentives for volunteering their time and receive the clinical results from the study.

The CDC/NCEH will take all necessary steps to protect study participants from COVID-19. The exposure assessment will be conducted following all state, local and CDC guidelines in place at the time of all interactions.

There is no cost for participating. For more information or to participate, call 561-297-4631 or email [email protected].