UToledo Faculty Advance Research Into Harmful Algal Bloom Impact, Mitigation

UToledo Faculty Advance Research Into Harmful Algal Bloom Impact, Mitigation

The University of Toledo advanced research to mitigate the effects of harmful algal blooms and to protect public health under the Ohio Department of Higher Education's Harmful Algal Bloom Research Initiative (HABRI) in 2025.

HABRI is co-led by UToledo and Ohio State University and managed by Ohio Sea Grant, which detailed findings from each of a dozen two-year projects completed under the initiative in 2025 in an annual report released in December.

Two of the projects were completed by three researchers at UToledo:

• Dr. Kevin Czajkowski, a Distinguished University Professor of geography, utilized remote sensing technology in combination with field data to evaluate the effectiveness of vegetative buffer strips that are planted along agricultural fields to slow runoff, absorb nutrients and improve water quality. His work identified areas of improvement in existing fields and areas of opportunity in new ones.

• Dr. Steven Haller and Dr. David Kennedy, associate professor and professor of medicine, respectively, analyzed national datasets in combination with clinical case studies to shed light on the health risks of algal toxins. In disseminating their findings on susceptibility and symptoms of exposure, they informed both medical interventions and public-facing educational materials.

The annual report also included updates on projects that are set to conclude in 2026. Four are led by Czajkowski, Haller, Kennedy and Dr. Kennedy Doro, an associate professor in UToledo's Department of Environmental Sciences.

ODHE launched HABRI to tackle critical needs and knowledge gaps identified by front-line state agencies in the aftermath of the harmful algal bloom-catalyzed drinking water crisis in Toledo in 2014. It aims to provide near-term solutions for the full suite of issues surrounding harmful algal blooms.

ODHE to date has allocated $24.5 million to HABRI. Matching funds from 15 participating universities across the state bring the total investment to more than $37 million.

"UToledo is proud to be a leader in efforts to seek solutions to harmful algal blooms, a growing problem of regional, national and international significance. UToledo's leadership in this area is the result of collaborative relationships that we established when we convened a team of scientists, engineers, doctors and public health experts in the immediate aftermath of the drinking water crisis in 2014," said Dr. F. Scott Hall, interim vice president for research. "Our researchers are committed to protecting water quality and the health of Lake Erie as an essential and irreplaceable resource for our community and indeed the entire region."

To view the most recent annual report, go to the Ohio Sea Grant website.