Most blooms last three to five months and affect hundreds of square miles, but they can continue sporadically for as long as 18 months, affecting thousands of square miles.
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2. Symptoms from breathing red tide toxins usually include coughing, sneezing, and teary eyes. For most people, symptoms are temporary when red tide toxins are in the air. Wearing a particle filter mask may lessen the effects, and research shows that using over-the- counter antihistamines may decrease your symptoms.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, red tide has been detected in 157 samples along Florida's Gulf Coast, with the strongest concentrations found along Pinellas and Sarasota counties.
A recent University of South Florida model showed that the Tampa Bay area's worst red tide runs from Caladesi Island State Park to Belleair Beach. On Saturday, the southern beaches were mostly clear. The air didn't smell. But some visitors were still feeling the effects of the offshore blooms.