Harmful algal bloom-associated marine toxins: A risk assessment framework

Marine toxins produced by harmful algal blooms (HABs) present a health risk to humans, but the extent of that risk remains unquantified. Increases in bloom frequency and geographic distribution present a potential for increased human exposure to these toxins, raising concerns among HAB researchers regarding an emerging public health problem. A risk assessment framework is presented with 2 objectives: (1) to provide a road map for integration and coordination of health-related research efforts and (2) to provide an overview of this complex problem to possible collaborators.