The Texas Water Commission has released two new publications dealing with red tide, and oil and hazardous waste spills.
Red tide is made up of patches of single- cell plants that cloud coastal waters.
The organisms release toxins that cause paralysis, diarrhea and affect the nervous system of exposed animals. Airborne toxins can cause people i n and around the water to cough and become nauseous and dizzy. It also describes procedures for reporting spills to state and federal agencies. Both publications are available from the Texas Water Commission, PO Box 13087, Austin, TX 78711. Since the time many of these articles were first published, area codes have changed.