Environmental Health Laboratory Resources

Lab Home

Government Agencies

EPA Office of Science and Technology
Florida Department of Health
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Healthy Swimming Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
St. Johns River Water Management District
USGS -- Water Resources of the United States
Volusia Water Atlas

Shell Fish Information

Frequently Asked Questions about Shellfish Harvesting, Aquaculture Farming, and Shellfish Handling.

Open/Closed Status of Shellfish areas for harvesting Atlantic Coast
From the Fort Pierce Inlet in St. Lucie County to the Tolomato River in St. Johns County

 

What can I do to prevent poisoning by marine toxins?

General guidelines for safe seafood consumption:

1. Although any person eating fish or shellfish containing toxin or disease-causing bacteria may become ill, persons with weakened immune systems or liver problems should not eat raw seafood because of their higher risk of Vibrio infection
2. Keep seafood on ice or refrigerated at less than 38° Fahrenheit to prevent spoilage.

Specific advice for avoiding marine toxin poisoning:

1. Keep fresh tuna, mackerel, grouper, and mahi mahi refrigerated to prevent development of histamine. Don't believe that cooking spoiled or toxic seafood will keep you safe. These toxins are not destroyed by cooking.
2. Do not eat barracuda, especially, those from the Caribbean.
3. Check with local health officials before collecting shellfish, and look for Health Department advisories about algal blooms, dinoflagellate growth or "redtide" conditions that may be posted at fishing supply stores.
4. Do not eat finfish or shellfish sold as bait. Bait products do not need to meet the same food safety regulations as seafood for human consumption.

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Surface Water

Florida Water Resources Journal wastewater stormwater Crane

National Estuary Program

US Environmental Protection Agency - Oceans, Coasts, Estuaries and Beaches

USGS Surface Water Information Page

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Data

STORET Commonly Asked Questions

STORET Homepage

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Educator Links

DEP Educators site
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/mainpage/res/ed.htm

GLOBE Educators Corner
http://www.globe.gov/fsl/html/templ.cgi?educorn&lang=en&nav=1

Make A Difference Kit (Free!)
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/index.htm

Project WET
http://www.projectwet.org/

Project WILD
http://www.projectwild.org/

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Kids Stuff

American Museum of Natural History
http://ology.amnh.org/

Cool Science for Curious Kids
http://www.hhmi.org/coolscience/

Discovery School
http://school.discovery.com/

For Kids Only! Earth Science Enterprise
http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/index.html

Kids Science Directory
http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/science/

Reeko’s Mad Scientist Lab
http://www.spartechsoftware.com/reeko/

The Orlando Science Center
http://www.osc.org/

U.S. EPA Explorers Club

Yahoo! Science Education K-12 Fairs and Competitions