Contaminated fish

It is known that the brain is one of the most sensitive sites of action of steroids in utero, and recently there have been suggestions that EDs may affect normal brain development and behaviour. For example, it has been alleged that in utero exposure to polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (PCBs) resulted in adverse effects on neurologic and intellectual function (memory and attention) in young children born to women who had eaten PCB contaminated fish in the USA." It has also been speculated that exposure to environmental pollutants with steroidal activity may be infinencing human sexual development and sexually controlled behavioiir." ... 

Chemical-mediated immune suppression has been identified from the experimental study of several wildlife species. Harbour seals fed either chemically contaminated fish from the Wadden Sea or imcontaminated fish were found to have differing immune responses, with the exposed group showing lowered immune response to microbial infections and certain types of cancer. "" Mink fed fish taken from below a discharge point for bleached Kraft pulp mill effluent have also shown impaired immune function, " showing that the non-accnmillative chemicals in this effluent can actively disrupt endocrine associated functions. 

Lockhart WL, Uthe JF, Kenney AR, Mehrle PM. 1972. Methylmercury in northern pike Esox lucius). distribution, elimination, and some biochemical characteristics of contaminated fish. J Fish Res Board Can 29 1519-1523. 

Albanus L, Frankenberg L, Grant C, von Haartman U, Jemelov A, Nordberg G, Rydalv M, Schutz A, Skerfving S. 1972. Toxicity for cats of methyhnercury in contaminated fish from Swedish lakes and of methyhnercury hydroxide added to fish. Environ Res 5 425 42. 

Wobeser G, Nielsen NO, Schiefer B. 1976. Mercury and mink. 1. Use of mercury-contaminated fish as a food for ranch mink intoxication. Can J Comp Med 40 30-33. 

Then he swiftly produced as many different varieties of the compounds as possible, including dimethylzinc, which convinced other scientists to accept Avogadro s theory, a foundation of atomic chemistry and methyl-mercury iodide, the first of many organomercury compounds known to poison people who eat mercury-contaminated fish. Despite his skill at synthesis, Frankland did not discover tetraethyl lead, the gasoline additive that became one of the most important industrial compounds of the mid-twentieth century (Chapter 6). 

Another well-documented case of feral fish chronically exposed to mercury through the effluent of the chlor-alkali plant is the case of the Cinca tributary [64, 65]. Barbel and bleak were collected upstream (SI) and downstream (S2) a chlor-alkali plant located at Monzon (Fig. 3). It is important to point out that there is no physical barrier between SI and S2 to prevent fish upstream migration of suspicious contaminated fishes from S2. 

Florida, consumption of contaminated fish with 2-3 mg methylmercury/kg FW muscle ... 

Fish muscle may be eaten once weekly by occasional consumers of fish and up to twice monthly for those who eat contaminated fish year-round 25-50 ng/kg FW fillet 18, 22... 

Paulsson, K. and K. Lundbergh. 1991. Treatment of mercury contaminated fish by selenium addition. Water Air Soil Pollut. 56 833-841. 

The risk posed to predators eating contaminated fish is determined by comparing the estimated daily intake (EDI) of fish predators (birds or mammals) with the predicted no-effect concentration in these predatory species. If adequate data are missing, the latter value was estimated from laboratory rodent or meat-eating animals (Table 3.3). 

Spores may be transferred from soil and plants to the sea via rainwater, causing the prevalence in coastal waters of the same C. botulinum types as on the land. Such a correlation was observed in Great Britain, where the type B predominates both in soil and in bottom sediments. Similarly, 71% of fish and bottom-sediment samples collected in southern France were contaminated with type B, while C. botulinum type E was found only in 9.6% of samples (Each et al., 2002). However, it is commonly believed that non-proteolytic type E is characteristic for the marine environment. A distinguishing feature of type E strains is the ability to grow in low temperatures (about 3°C), which are typical for bottom layers of seas and oceans. Moreover, the bottom sediments provide anaerobic conditions for the outgrowth of Clostridium. Therefore, the marine environment promotes C. botulinum type E distribution. This has been further supported by the rate of fish and seafood contamination fish and seafood isolated in many countries are most frequently contaminated with C. botulinum type E (Dodds, 1993 a,b). Furthermore, epidemiological studies have shown that the majority of botulism cases linked to fish and seafood consumption reported between 1950 and 1996 in the U.S. were caused by C. botulinum type E (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1998). C. botulinum type F,... 

Hexachlorobutadiene has been detected in human adipose tissue and blood samples. These data indicate that exposure to hexachlorobutadiene does occur in humans, however route-specific estimates of hexachlorobutadiene exposure were not located. Based on monitoring data, individuals who work in hexachlorobutadiene-producing facilities, live at or near hazardous waste facilities, or consume large amounts of hexachlorobutadiene-contaminated fish may have above-average exposures to hexachlorobutadiene. 

In the late 1950s the subtle and serious consequences of methyl mercury exposure became evident in Minamata, Japan. Initially, early signs of uncoordinated movement and numbness around the lips and extremities, followed by constriction in visual fields in fishermen and their families, baffled health experts. Developmental effects were clearly evident in infants who exhibited subtle to severe disabilities. This spectrum of adverse effects was finally related to methyl mercury exposure from consumption of contaminated fish. Minamata Bay was contaminated with mercury and methyl mercury from a factory manufacturing the chemical acetaldehyde. Mercury was used in the manufacturing process, which also resulted in both mercury and methyl mercury being discharged into Minamata Bay. The fish in the bay accu-... 

The primary human exposure to methyl mercury is from consumption of contaminated fish. The most sensitive population is the developing fetus or infant due to the effects of methyl mercury on the nervous system (neurotoxic) and developmental effects. Exposure limits and fish consumption advisories are directed at pregnant women, women of childbearing age, and children. All agencies also recognize that fish consumption has many nutritional benefits and is an important part of many people s diet. Nevertheless, the widespread distribution of mercury and subsequent bioaccumulation of methyl mercury requires that many agencies have developed recommendation for levels of mercury in fish. Below is a list of some of these recommendations, but it is very important to consult the local fish consumption advisories. 

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