Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin β-N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) in Shark Fins
Sharks are among the most threatened groups of marine species. Populations are declining globally to support the growing demand for shark fin soup. Sharks are known to bioaccumulate toxins that may pose health risks to consumers of shark products. The feeding habits of sharks are varied, including f...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2012-02-01
|
| Series: | Marine Drugs |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/10/2/509/ |
| _version_ | 1828357942488858624 |
|---|---|
| author | John Pablo Deborah C. Mash Sandra A. Banack Neil Hammerschlag Margaret Basile Kiyo Mondo |
| author_facet | John Pablo Deborah C. Mash Sandra A. Banack Neil Hammerschlag Margaret Basile Kiyo Mondo |
| author_sort | John Pablo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sharks are among the most threatened groups of marine species. Populations are declining globally to support the growing demand for shark fin soup. Sharks are known to bioaccumulate toxins that may pose health risks to consumers of shark products. The feeding habits of sharks are varied, including fish, mammals, crustaceans and plankton. The cyanobacterial neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) has been detected in species of free-living marine cyanobacteria and may bioaccumulate in the marine food web. In this study, we sampled fin clips from seven different species of sharks in South Florida to survey the occurrence of BMAA using HPLC-FD and Triple Quadrupole LC/MS/MS methods. BMAA was detected in the fins of all species examined with concentrations ranging from 144 to 1836 ng/mg wet weight. Since BMAA has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases, these results may have important relevance to human health. We suggest that consumption of shark fins may increase the risk for human exposure to the cyanobacterial neurotoxin BMAA. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T03:22:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9afe1fc1ca9742c099d2f212e7c472d9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1660-3397 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T03:22:42Z |
| publishDate | 2012-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Marine Drugs |
| spelling | doaj.art-9afe1fc1ca9742c099d2f212e7c472d92022-12-22T02:15:16ZengMDPI AGMarine Drugs1660-33972012-02-0110250952010.3390/md10020509Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin β-N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) in Shark FinsJohn PabloDeborah C. MashSandra A. BanackNeil HammerschlagMargaret BasileKiyo MondoSharks are among the most threatened groups of marine species. Populations are declining globally to support the growing demand for shark fin soup. Sharks are known to bioaccumulate toxins that may pose health risks to consumers of shark products. The feeding habits of sharks are varied, including fish, mammals, crustaceans and plankton. The cyanobacterial neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) has been detected in species of free-living marine cyanobacteria and may bioaccumulate in the marine food web. In this study, we sampled fin clips from seven different species of sharks in South Florida to survey the occurrence of BMAA using HPLC-FD and Triple Quadrupole LC/MS/MS methods. BMAA was detected in the fins of all species examined with concentrations ranging from 144 to 1836 ng/mg wet weight. Since BMAA has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases, these results may have important relevance to human health. We suggest that consumption of shark fins may increase the risk for human exposure to the cyanobacterial neurotoxin BMAA.http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/10/2/509/β-N-methylamino-L-alanineneurotoxinneurodegenerative diseasecyanobacteriaelasmobranchconservation |
| spellingShingle | John Pablo Deborah C. Mash Sandra A. Banack Neil Hammerschlag Margaret Basile Kiyo Mondo Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin β-N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) in Shark Fins Marine Drugs β-N-methylamino-L-alanine neurotoxin neurodegenerative disease cyanobacteria elasmobranch conservation |
| title | Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin β-N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) in Shark Fins |
| title_full | Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin β-N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) in Shark Fins |
| title_fullStr | Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin β-N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) in Shark Fins |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin β-N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) in Shark Fins |
| title_short | Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin β-N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) in Shark Fins |
| title_sort | cyanobacterial neurotoxin β n methylamino l alanine bmaa in shark fins |
| topic | β-N-methylamino-L-alanine neurotoxin neurodegenerative disease cyanobacteria elasmobranch conservation |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/10/2/509/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT johnpablo cyanobacterialneurotoxinbnmethylaminolalaninebmaainsharkfins AT deborahcmash cyanobacterialneurotoxinbnmethylaminolalaninebmaainsharkfins AT sandraabanack cyanobacterialneurotoxinbnmethylaminolalaninebmaainsharkfins AT neilhammerschlag cyanobacterialneurotoxinbnmethylaminolalaninebmaainsharkfins AT margaretbasile cyanobacterialneurotoxinbnmethylaminolalaninebmaainsharkfins AT kiyomondo cyanobacterialneurotoxinbnmethylaminolalaninebmaainsharkfins |