Study finds shark fins & meat contain high levels of neurotoxins linked to Alzheimer's disease

A study from Miami shows scientists finding high concentrations  of toxins linked to neurodegenerative diseases in the fins and muscles of sharks. Who would of thought that eating shark meat or fins would cause such a thing? Apparently this is a huge deal! Fins and muscle tissue were collected from 10 shark species found in both the Atlantic and pacific oceans. They found toxins of both mercury and methylamino-L-alanine (AKA BMAA). BMAA has shown to cause these neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer. The reason there is a high concentration of toxins in sharks is because they are the top of their food chain. Their tissues tend to accumulate mercury and BMAA. This can harm the sharks as well as humans.

Shark products are widely consumed in Asia and globally in Asian communities. Currently, shark fin soup is in increasingly high demand, a popular food eaten at weddings and other celebrations. Other shark products, such as shark cartilage, are included in dietary supplements as a source of traditional Chinese medicine, and have gained popularity in Western nations. The people consuming these foods/products don't realize what it could possible cause them.

 Neil Hammerschlag, a research assistant professor at the UM Rosenstiel School and UM Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy, and the study’s lead author, said "Since sharks are predators, living higher up in the food web, their tissues tend to accumulate and concentrate toxins, which may not only pose a threat to shark health, but also put human consumers of shark parts at a health risk".

A team collected data from these 10 sharks and found that all shark species have concentrations of mercury and BMAA that could pose a threat to human health. And because they are both at high levels, the researchers believe they could have synergistic negative effects on consumers.

I think limiting the consumption of shark meat and fins, will have positive health benefits for consumers and positive conservation outcomes for sharks, many of which are threatened with extinction due in part to the growing high demand for shark fin soup. I also believe informing and educating people of Asia who mainly consume these products about the neurological damage would be a good idea. These people don't even know what is in their food and how it is affecting them. 

Matthew Trapnell

References 

Study finds shark fins & meat contain high levels of neurotoxins linked to Alzheimer's disease, www.biologynews.net/archives/2016/08/29/study_finds_shark_fins_meat_contain_high_levels_of_neurotoxins_linked_to_alzheimers_disease.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%2Bbiologynews%2Fheadlines%2B%28Biology%2BNews%2BNet%29. Accessed 20 Sept. 2017.