Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin BMAA and Mercury in Sharks
Sharks have greater risk for bioaccumulation of marine toxins and mercury (Hg), because they are long-lived predators. Shark fins and cartilage also contain β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA), a ubiquitous cyanobacterial toxin linked to neurodegenerative diseases. Today, a significant number of shark...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2016-08-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/8/8/238 |
| _version_ | 1798043474500517888 |
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| author | Neil Hammerschlag David A. Davis Kiyo Mondo Matthew S. Seely Susan J. Murch William Broc Glover Timothy Divoll David C. Evers Deborah C. Mash |
| author_facet | Neil Hammerschlag David A. Davis Kiyo Mondo Matthew S. Seely Susan J. Murch William Broc Glover Timothy Divoll David C. Evers Deborah C. Mash |
| author_sort | Neil Hammerschlag |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sharks have greater risk for bioaccumulation of marine toxins and mercury (Hg), because they are long-lived predators. Shark fins and cartilage also contain β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA), a ubiquitous cyanobacterial toxin linked to neurodegenerative diseases. Today, a significant number of shark species have found their way onto the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Many species of large sharks are threatened with extinction due in part to the growing high demand for shark fin soup and, to a lesser extent, for shark meat and cartilage products. Recent studies suggest that the consumption of shark parts may be a route to human exposure of marine toxins. Here, we investigated BMAA and Hg concentrations in fins and muscles sampled in ten species of sharks from the South Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. BMAA was detected in all shark species with only seven of the 55 samples analyzed testing below the limit of detection of the assay. Hg concentrations measured in fins and muscle samples from the 10 species ranged from 0.05 to 13.23 ng/mg. These analytical test results suggest restricting human consumption of shark meat and fins due to the high frequency and co-occurrence of two synergistic environmental neurotoxic compounds. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:49:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-18bfc2aec7f7400bab474a7b9fea4aa1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T22:49:34Z |
| publishDate | 2016-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-18bfc2aec7f7400bab474a7b9fea4aa12022-12-22T03:58:37ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512016-08-018823810.3390/toxins8080238toxins8080238Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin BMAA and Mercury in SharksNeil Hammerschlag0David A. Davis1Kiyo Mondo2Matthew S. Seely3Susan J. Murch4William Broc Glover5Timothy Divoll6David C. Evers7Deborah C. Mash8Rosensteil School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USADepartment of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USADepartment of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USADepartment of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USADepartment of Chemistry, 3247 University Way, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry, 3247 University Way, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, CanadaBiodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME 04103, USABiodiversity Research Institute, 276 Canco Road, Portland, ME 04103, USADepartment of Neurology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USASharks have greater risk for bioaccumulation of marine toxins and mercury (Hg), because they are long-lived predators. Shark fins and cartilage also contain β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA), a ubiquitous cyanobacterial toxin linked to neurodegenerative diseases. Today, a significant number of shark species have found their way onto the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Many species of large sharks are threatened with extinction due in part to the growing high demand for shark fin soup and, to a lesser extent, for shark meat and cartilage products. Recent studies suggest that the consumption of shark parts may be a route to human exposure of marine toxins. Here, we investigated BMAA and Hg concentrations in fins and muscles sampled in ten species of sharks from the South Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. BMAA was detected in all shark species with only seven of the 55 samples analyzed testing below the limit of detection of the assay. Hg concentrations measured in fins and muscle samples from the 10 species ranged from 0.05 to 13.23 ng/mg. These analytical test results suggest restricting human consumption of shark meat and fins due to the high frequency and co-occurrence of two synergistic environmental neurotoxic compounds.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/8/8/238β-N-methylamino-">l-alanineconservationcyanobacteriatotal mercurymethylmercuryneurodegenerative diseaseneurotoxinsharks |
| spellingShingle | Neil Hammerschlag David A. Davis Kiyo Mondo Matthew S. Seely Susan J. Murch William Broc Glover Timothy Divoll David C. Evers Deborah C. Mash Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin BMAA and Mercury in Sharks Toxins β-N-methylamino- ">l-alanine conservation cyanobacteria total mercury methylmercury neurodegenerative disease neurotoxin sharks |
| title | Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin BMAA and Mercury in Sharks |
| title_full | Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin BMAA and Mercury in Sharks |
| title_fullStr | Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin BMAA and Mercury in Sharks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin BMAA and Mercury in Sharks |
| title_short | Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin BMAA and Mercury in Sharks |
| title_sort | cyanobacterial neurotoxin bmaa and mercury in sharks |
| topic | β-N-methylamino- ">l-alanine conservation cyanobacteria total mercury methylmercury neurodegenerative disease neurotoxin sharks |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/8/8/238 |
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