bassianolide and Poisoning

Twenty-eight metals and elements were measured in the muscle, liver, gills, bone and intestine of farmed seabass and gilthead seabream from four Mediterranean fish farms. The influence of fish species and the effect of environmental conditions on the metal accumulation in fish tissues was investigated. Most concentrations were lower in muscle and higher in liver and bone than in other body tissues. Seabass accumulates more elements in its tissues than seabream. Fish reared in coarse, oxic sites accumulate more elements with higher concentrations in muscle, bone and intestine and with lower concentrations in liver and gills than fish reared in silty, anoxic sites. This may be attributed to feed type and sediment properties. According to the metal pollution index, hazard quotient, selenium health benefit values, carcinogenic risk of arsenic, maximum safe consumption and the permitted limits, the consumption of both farmed species should be considered as safe for human health.

Topics: Animals; Bass; Heavy Metal Poisoning; Humans; Metals; Organ Specificity; Poisoning; Risk Assessment; Sea Bream; Seafood

Serranidae and Labridae fish caught in 1993 at Alijos Rocks, 300 miles off East Magdalena Bay, Southern Baja California, caused severe illness of a fishing boat crew. The described symptoms resembled those of ciguatera. The presence of ciguatera-like toxins was confirmed on extracts from these fish using the mouse bioassay procedure, showing activities between 220 to 390 mouse units (M.U.). The founding of ciguatoxin at Alijos Rocks 24 degrees 57' N, 115 degrees 45' W) extends to the northeast its geographical distribution in the Pacific and locates the outbreak near the continental coastline.

Topics: Adult; Animals; Bass; Biological Assay; Ciguatera Poisoning; Ciguatoxins; Humans; Mexico; Mice; Pacific Islands; Poisoning; Seafood