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Poco se conoce sobre la biología de Simophis rhinostoma (Schlegel, 1837). No existe información substancial al respecto de su dieta, apenas que se alimenta de anuros y, en cautiverio, hay registros de la ingestión de lagartos. Presentamos el primer relato de la ingestión de peces por S. rhinostoma, un colúbrido que habita los dominios de la Mata Atlántica y Cerrado, así como algunos aspectos de su comportamiento exhibido durante la alimentación.

The possible health risks from formaldehyde contamination to the local population through the fish ingestion were evaluated in Kawran Bazaar, Dhaka city, Bangladesh. The average body weight of children, adolescent and adult populations was found to be 23.27 ± 9.11 kg, 44.14 ± 4.93 kg and 51.67 ± 6.79 kg, respectively, and people consumed 68.22 ± 17.37 g person−1 day−1 fish. Formaldehyde content was determined by spectrophotometric method. Formaldehyde content was found to be 9.39 ± 3.39–32.57 ± 11.23 mg kg−1 in wet fish, 5.34 ± 1.89–12.78 ± 6.67 mg kg−1 in 1 h dipped fish, 3.81 ± 1.23–11.38 ± 4.66 mg kg−1 in 1 h 5% brine dipped fish, 0.91 ± 0.34–2.61 ± 0.63 mg kg−1 in fried fish, 0.71 ± 0.13–2.31 ± 1.33 mg kg−1 in cooked fish, 0.58 ± 0.27–1.57 ± 0.84 mg kg−1 in boiled fish, 0.63 ± 0.09–1.64 ± 1.17 mg kg−1 in boiled fish water and 0.72 ± 0.19–2.45 ± 0.91 mg kg−1 in fish gravy. The effect of dipped in water, 5% brine water dipped, fried, boiled and cooked treatments shows a reduction in the formaldehyde content in all the samples. Formaldehyde contents among all fish species and fish circumstances were still lower than acceptable daily intake (0.2 mg kg−1). In general, no target hazard quotient and health risk index value of formaldehyde were greater than one, which means children, adolescent and adults are within the safe interval. However, it also indicates that collected fish samples from fish markets were still found safe for human consumption.

Nowadays the younger generations are moving their food habits from the traditional diet to a Western diet, which is low in fruits and vegetables and high in fat and sugary drinks. University students are a particularly vulnerable population once, with the entrance to university, they are subjected to new influences and responsibilities, in particular, those who live far from their parents&rsquo, houses are more predisposed to unhealthy eating habits. To assess the influence that admission to university has had on the frequency of intake of certain foods and meals as well as their adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), self-administered questionnaires were applied. The sample included 97 Portuguese students, with an average age of 21 years, a normal weight, according to body mass index, and an average MedDiet adherence. Most of the individuals did not smoke and the majority did not drink coffee. It was also observed that displaced students consume fast food more frequently compared to the period before they start university. Fish ingestion decreased and coffee consumption increased, in the same group, after starting their university studies.

In this study, human exposure and risks of metals through fish ingestion were predicted. Concentrations of 10 metals (Cd, As, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn) in 17 commonly eaten fish species in...

Kounis syndrome (KS) is a complex of cardiovascular symptoms and signs following either allergy or hypersensitivity and anaphylactic or anaphylactoid insults. We report the case of 57-year-old man, with hypertension and history of allergy, referred for facial rash and palpitations appeared after consumption of canned tuna fish. Suddenly, the patient collapsed: electrocardiogram showed ST-elevation in inferior leads. The patient was transferred from the spoke emergency room for coronary angio, which did not show any sign of coronary atherosclerosis. A transient coronary spasm was therefore hypothesized and the final diagnosis was KS. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first cases of KS following the ingestion of tuna fish. KS secondary to food allergy has also been reported, and shellfish ingestion has been considered as one of the most active KS inducer foods. Canned tuna fish too is well known as an allergy inducer. Tuna fish allergy should be considered, however, within the context of scombroid food poisoning, also called histamine fish poisoning. Fish with high levels of free histidine, the enzyme substrate converted to histamine by bacterial histidine decarboxylase, are those most often implicated in scombroid poisoning. Inflammatory mediators such as histamine constitute the pathophysiologic basis of Kounis hypersensitivity-associated acute coronary syndrome. Patients with coronary risk factors, allergic reaction after food ingestion, and suspected scombroid poisoning should be therefore carefully monitored for a prompt diagnosis of possible coronary complications.

Background: Dietary methylmercury intake can occur not only through fish ingestion but also through rice ingestion; however, rice does not contain the same beneficial nutrients as fish. In rural Ch...

Silver hake, (Merluccius bilinearis), contributes significant biomass to Northwest Atlantic ecosystems. The incidence of plastic ingestion for 134 individuals collected from Newfoundland, Canada was examined through visual examination of gastrointestinal contents and Raman spectrometry. We found a frequency of occurrence of ingestion of 0%. Through a comprehensive literature review of globally published fish ingestion studies, we found our value to be consistent with 41% (n=100) of all reported fish ingestion rates. We could not statistically compare silver hake results to other species due to low sample sizes in other studies (less than n=20) and a lack of standardized sampling methods. We recommend that further studies should 1) continue to report 0% plastic ingestion rates and 2) should describe location and species-specific traits that may contribute to 0% ingestion rates, particularly in locations where fish consumption has cultural and economic significance.

Background Cyanide is among the most harmful substances on Earth and it is harmful to humans and most aquatic life even at low concentrations. Free, total cyanide levels and other physicochemical parameters were determined in fish, cassava, cocoyam, dam and borehole water samples collected from Kenyasi, Ghana. A total of sixteen (16) water samples, five (5) fish samples, twenty (20) cassava and cocoyam tubers were collected from the study area. Free and total cyanide levels were determined using Skalar San++ Automated Wet Chemistry Analyser with Continuous Flow method. Results The mean free cyanide levels in fish, cassava, cocoyam, dam and borehole water samples were 63.09, 33.26, 15.44, 0.16 and 0.18 mg/L, respectively, while the mean total cyanide levels were 93.60, 43.47, 29.62, 21.70 and 25.09 mg/L in fish, cassava, cocoyam, dam and borehole water samples, respectively. The mean pH value in fish, cassava, cocoyam, dam and borehole water samples were 6.90, 6.46, 6.82, 5.84 and 6.59, respectively. The mean conductivity was 153.64, 156.83, 76.03, 207.39 and 205.99 in fish, cassava, cocoyam, dam and borehole water samples, respectively. Results of two-way Analysis of Variance test showed that the variation in free cyanide levels was significant (p 1, including fish ingestion by an adult. This signifies adverse non-carcinogenic risk. The persistent intake of cassava and cocoyam can probably induce adverse health effects. Conclusions From the results, it can be concluded that fish, cassava and water samples at Dam 4, Dam 7 and BH1 were not safe for consumption since they recorded values higher than the set limits. Therefore, people are advised not to feed on the cassava product, fish and consume water samples located close to Dam 4, Dam 7 and BH1.

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Total mercury (Hg) concentrations were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in muscles and liver of composite samples of Mugil cephalus and M. curema collected during November 2013 and in January, April, and July 2014 from the coastal lagoons Altata-Ensenada del Pabellón (AEP), Ceuta (CEU), and Teacapán-Agua Brava (TAG) of Sinaloa State. The mean Hg contents and information on local consumption were used to assess the possible risk caused by fish ingestion. Mean total mercury levels in the muscles ranged from 0.11 to 0.39 μg/g, while the range for liver was 0.12-3.91 μg/g. The mean Hg content of the liver was significantly (p 0.001) higher than that of the muscles only in samples collected from AEP. Although total Hg levels in the muscles were lower than the official permissible limit, the HQ values for methyl mercury calculated for the younger age classes of one fishing community were1, indicating a possible risk for some fishing communities of the Mexican Pacific coast.

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a powerful sodium channel blocker found in puffer fish and some marine animals. Cases of TTX poisoning most often result from puffer fish ingestion. Diagnosis is mainly from patient’s signs and symptoms or the detection of TTX in the leftover food. If leftover food is unavailable, the determination of TTX in the patient’s urine and/or plasma is essential to confirm the diagnosis. Although various methods for the determination of TTX have been published, most of them are for food tissue samples. Dealing with human urine and blood samples is much more challenging. Unlike in food, the amount of toxin in the urine and blood of a patient is generally extremely low; therefore a very sensitive method is required to detect it. In this regard, mass spectrometry (MS) methods are the best choice. Since TTX is a very polar compound, there will be lack of retention on conventional reverse-phase columns; use of ion pair reagent or hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) can help solve this problem. The problem of ion suppression is another challenge in analyzing polar compound in biological samples. This review will discuss different MS methods and their pros and cons.

A screening level human health risk assessment (HHRA) was applied to evaluate the human health implications of consuming selenium found in fish tissues collected downstream of coal mines in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. The study evaluated the potential for adverse human health effects associated with selenium, and considered known and potential benefits of selenium and fish ingestion. The results indicated that risks of selenosis due to consumption of selenium-contaminated fish in the region are negligible. Conclusions were strengthened by consideration of the potential benefits of selenium to human health, including: selenium essentiality for maintenance of good health; potential cancer prevention properties due to its role as an antioxidant; potential benefits for cardiovascular health; and other positive health benefits. The findings indicated that some aspects of the traditional framework for HHRA (e.g., application of safety factors to “err on the side of safety”) are inappropriate...

Mercury is a major public health concern because of its widespread occurrence in the environment and its toxic effects on humans, mainly through fish ingestion. On the other hand, selenium is known by its antioxidant effect. For this reason, the knowledge of the correlation between mercury and selenium concentrations in fish samples can bring important information allowing a better understanding of mercury equilibrium in the inhabitants of the Amazon region. In this paper, total mercury and selenium levels were measured in carnivorous (47), omnivorous (44), and herbivorous (4) fish species caught in rivers and in an artificial lake in Cachoeira do PiriaMunicipality, situated in ParaState, Amazon region. The mercury concentration ranged from 1.15 to 13.44 nmol g(-1) and selenium from 2.44 to 14.56 nmol g(-1) for carnivorous species. For noncarnivorous species, mercury concentration ranged from 0.08 to 2.03 nmol g(-1) and selenium from 1.27 to 15.32 nmol g(-1). The molar ratios between mercury and selenium contents obtained for carnivorous and noncarnivorous species were 0.65 and 0.14, respectively. Mercury and selenium levels were positively correlated with fish body mass (weight) only for Hoplias malabaricus (n=35, R2=0.565, P

Over 2000 years ago in ancient Greece, Hippocrates (460–375/351 bc) recorded his observations of an adverse food reaction (i.e., milk-induced), 18 and in his treatise on ancient medicine, admonished patients to "search out food befitting their nature." 7 Writings from Galen, physician and philosopher (130–200 ad), indicate that the Romans were also well aware that foods safely consumed by most of the population could not be tolerated by some and could initiate many forms of adverse reactions. 16 Centuries later, in 1921, Carl Prausnitz and Heinz Kustner, in a significant breakthrough contribution, demonstrated the passive transfer (P-K) test. By injecting his own serum into Prausnitz, who had a known sensitivity to fish, Kustner was able to provoke a wheal and flare response at the injection site following fish ingestion by Prausnitz. 17 Although now used only for special purposes because of the risk of transmitting AIDS and other diseases, the test succeeded in establishing substances in blood serum as the causative factor in food allergy. Blinded, placebo-controlled food trials were introduced in 1950 by Loveless who incorporated "food masking" techniques to disguise a suspected food in a safe food, thereby avoiding detection by the patient. 10,11 At that same symposium, Graham et al presented a paper examining the placebo effect. Patients in this study reacted more to what they believed was being administered than to the actual food, showing once again the human mind's ability to conjure up and to remand symptoms. 5,15 Further pioneering work by May, in 1976, used the double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC), 14 a procedure that continues to be recognized as the standard in diagnosing food allergy. 18

The diet of pirambeba Serrasalmus brandtii Reinhardt 1874 was studied in four floodplain lakes in Sao Francisco river. The main food items consumed were chunks of fish flesh, small fishes, scales, fins and aquatic insects. Trophic ontogeny was observed in all lakes. The amount of fishes in the diet of S. brandtii increased with the length of the individuals, while the amount of aquatics insects, fins and scales decreased. Aquatic insects were consumed in greater proportion during the wet season. Fish ingestion, including scales and fins, was correlated with the abundance of fishes.

The role of thimerosal containing vaccines in the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been an area of intense debate, as has the presence of mercury dental amalgams and fish ingestion by pregnant mothers. We studied the effects of thimerosal on cell proliferation and mitochondrial function from B-lymphocytes taken from individuals with autism, their nonautistic twins, and their nontwin siblings. Eleven families were examined and compared to matched controls. B-cells were grown with increasing levels of thimerosal, and various assays (LDH, XTT, DCFH, etc.) were performed to examine the effects on cellular proliferation and mitochondrial function. A subpopulation of eight individuals (4 ASD, 2 twins, and 2 siblings) from four of the families showed thimerosal hypersensitivity, whereas none of the control individuals displayed this response. The thimerosal concentration required to inhibit cell proliferation in these individuals was only 40% of controls. Cells hypersensitive to thimerosal also had higher levels of oxidative stress markers, protein carbonyls, and oxidant generation. This suggests certain individuals with a mild mitochondrial defect may be highly susceptible to mitochondrial specific toxins like the vaccine preservative thimerosal.

The potential risks to human health associated with contaminant discharges from the waste area groupings (WAGs) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have been estimated and ranked. Human health risks are estimated using selected exposure relationships for human receptors and local con- taminant concentrations associated with individual waste sites. The ranking of the waste areas using deterministic methods yields disparate ran- kings because risk assessment results are very user-specific and depend on the user's selection of models, parameter values and uncertainty about important model parameters. Rankings obtained without an uncertainty analysis are unreliable because of large inconsistencies in the amount of conservatism used to quantify model parameters for specific contaminant and exposure pathways. Through the use of uncertainty analyses on the risk assessment of the waste sites, it was possible to rank the waste areas in a more reliable manner. The WAGs are ranked based on potential human health risk in the following order: (1) WAG 1; (2) WAG 2, 6, and 7, and WAG 4; (3) WAG 5; (4) WAG 9; (5) WAG 3; and (6) WAG 8. The dominant pathway contributing to human health risks is through fish ingestion, while the contaminant contributing the greatest risk over all exposure path- ways considered is 137Cs.

Background & Aims:Gastrointestinal anisakiasis, a fish-borne zoonoses, may be acquired by humans after the ingestion of raw marine fish infested with larvae of the nematode Anisakis simplex. Because of the invasive nature of the parasite, inflammatory obstruction or perforation of the gut wall may result. Although rare, Anisakis-induced intestinal obstruction is becoming a growing public health problem in Mediterranean areas, such as Spain, with a high fish-intake-based diet. Unawareness of this entity and nonspecific clinical symptoms, along with the lack of alternative therapeutic options other than conservative measures, may explain why half of these patients require abdominal laparotomy for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Methods:We describe a series of 8 patients with acute intestinal anisakiasis treated in our center from July 2001 to January 2004. Results:The first 3 patients underwent segmental ileal resection for imminent peritonitis. The remaining 5 patients were treated with intravenous 6-methylprednisolone (1 mg/kg/24 h) for 5 days with fast clinical and radiologic resolution in all 5 patients with no adverse reactions. Conclusions:Although preliminary, our data may suggest that parenteral corticosteroids could be a reasonable, inexpensive, and safe alternative in these patients to prevent intestinal resection.

Sum of individual PCBs congeners in surface water and sediment samples from Warri River system, a coastal river of Niger Delta, Nigeria were measured between March and June 2003. Specific individual PCBs analysis was by HPGC series 6890. Mean concentrations of ΣPCBs in surface water samples ranged from 0.35 μg l -l (Tori Creek) to 1.30 μg l -l (Crawford Creek). Sediment samples had higher levels ranging from 2.00 ng g -l (Tori Creek) to 7.00 ng g -l (Crawford Creek). Null hypothesis of normality was rejected at p>0.05 indicating significant difference between the matrices. Concentrations of PCB were compared with ecotoxicological benchmarks and regulatory guidelines to determine potential concern for effects on aquatic life and human health. Measured mean concentrations in surface water and sediments samples from Crawford creek station indicated concern for environmental and public health because of their exceedence of the US EPA PCB limit for drinking water (0.0005μgl -l ) and water quality criteria for chronic exposure (79pgl -l ) through drinking water and fish ingestion. KEY WORDS: PCBs, Water, Sediment, Hazard, Warri River. Global Journal of Environmental Sciences Vol.4(1) 2005: 65-71

Human exposure to mercury intoxication through contaminated fish ingestion has been well studied, mainly among Japanese population. The Brazilian population, particulaly in the Amazon region, is now in focus due to findings of fish contamination. Major health impacts caused by mercury affect mostly people who have a regular fish diet. A continuous checking for mercury content in the most consumed fish could prevent human intoxication. A simple, non-instrumental method to allow a continuous checking of the mercury content in fish was developed. Based on this method, we are proposing a prevention action where community agents can be trained to perform fish analysis. Technical Schools and Universities located nearby the affected areas would be in charge of quality control programs for the fish analysis as well as for the selection, training and update for operators. A experiência da população japonesa relacionada à intoxicação por ingestão de peixe contaminado com mercúrio foi a base de muitos estudos. No Brasil, os peixes da região Amazônica, têm apresentado evidências de contaminação, colocando em risco a saúde da população ribeirinha. O monitoramento contínuo do teor de mercúrio nos peixes desta região poderia evitar a intoxicação humana. Um método simples e não instrumental foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de permitir este monitoramento. Baseado neste método, está sendo proposto uma ação preventiva onde agentes comunitários bem treinados serão os analistas. Escolas Técnicas e Universidades localizadas próximas às áreas afetadas serão encarregadas do controle de qualidade das análises, assim como da seleção, treinamento e reciclagem dos operadores.

Urban et al. (2009) presented a human health risk assessment for the Lower Passaic River that is not consistent with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) risk assessment guidance for Superfund cited in the article, because it is based on a fish ingestion rate that underestimates angler exposure to contaminated fish, does not evaluate exposure to contaminated crab, and underestimates the cancer risks and non-cancer health hazards associated with these exposure pathways. USEPA recommends that people follow the health advisories for the Lower Passaic River, available online at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/2009FishAdvisoryBrochure.pdf.

Este estudo avalia a contaminação mercurial em comunidades de pescadores em quatro localidades nas margens do rio Tapajós: Rainha, Barreiras, São Luís do Tapajós e Paraná-Mirim. Análises toxocológicas das amostras de cabelo foram realizadas por espectofotometria de absorção atômica. Os níveis de mercúrio total em amostras de cabelo variaram entre 2,9µg/g e 71,5µg/g. Os valores mais baixos foram encontrados na comunidade de Paraná-Mirim. Os mais elevados, em São Luís do Tapajós e Barreiras, cerca de seis a sete vezes superiores ao valor estabelecido. As diferenças entre as concentrações médias de mercúrio total nas amostras, coletadas em populações ribeirinhas, a montante e a jusante do rio Tapajós em Itaituba, não apresentaram significância estatística (p > 0,05). Conclui-se que a exposição humana ao mercúrio por ingestão de peixes contaminados constitui risco potencial para o aparecimento de sintomas e sinais da doença de Minamata, o que recomenda a manutenção de um programa de vigilância epidemiológica. This study evaluates human exposure to methylmercury in fishermen and their families in four villages on the Tapajós river: Rainha, Barreiras, São Luís do Tapajós and Paraná-Mirim. Hair analyses were performed with atomic absorption spectophotometry. Total hair mercury levels varied between 2.9mg/g and 71.5mg/g. Paraná-Mirim showed the lowest level. The highest level was found in São Luís do Tapajós and Barreiras. The hair mercury was six to seven times higher than the established safe limit of 10mg/g. No statistically significant difference was found between the mean level of total mercury taken from the inhabitants living downstream and upstream in Itaituba village (p > 0.05). These results confirm that human exposure to methylmercury is occurring on the Tapajós river and suggest that continued fish ingestion in that region is a potential risk factor for the appearance of symptoms and signs of Minamata disease. An immediate epidemiological survey program is recommended.

Large amounts of analytical chemical data are generated during the course of Superfund site investigations. Often, insufficient thought is given to the final uses of these data as they relate to risk assessment. The manner in which these large volumes of analytical data are reduced may have a large impact on calculated risk levels. For example, it may be desirable to ignore “non-detects” in some instances, whereas in others, gross overestimation of risks may result if this is done. Regarding the effect of the type of data gathered, the following example is revealing. Fish ingestion may be a significant pathway of concern, yet no fish data are gathered. Bioconcentration factors (BCFs) must then be used to estimate fish tissue levels and, subsequently, human intakes and risk levels. Large overestimates in risk levels may result from using BCFs as opposed to actual tissue levels. Situations where alternative data-gathering and data-handling techniques may profoundly influence calculated risk levels are shown. In addition, an attempt is made to establish guidelines for the gathering and handling of analytical data used in risk assessments.

Se comentan los tres brotes de ictiosarcotoxicosis (ciguatera) conocidos en las costas colombianas sobre el Mar Caribe, causados por la ingestión de la carne de los peces Sphyraena barracuda (Walbaum) y Seriola dumerili (Mitchiil).

Exposure assessment procedures have been developed using relevant and likely scenarios through which humans could be exposed to dioxin-contaminated soil. Five exposure pathways were chosen for analysis: dust inhalation, fish ingestion, dermal absorption, soil ingestion, and beef/dairy product ingestion. Equations for calculating exposure levels and associated cancer risks are presented, and factors describing contact rate, exposure duration, absorbed fraction and miscellaneous parameters for each pathway are discussed.

AQUAMAN is an interactive computer code for calculating values of dose (50-year dose commitment) to man from aqueous releases of radionuclides from nuclear facilities. The data base contains values of internal and external dose conversion factors, and bioaccumulation (freshwater and marine) factors for 56 radionuclides. A maximum of 20 radionuclides may be selected for any one calculation. Dose and cumulative exposure index (CUEX) values are calculated for total body, GI tract, bone, thyroid, lungs, liver, kidneys, testes, and ovaries for each of three exposure pathways: water ingestion, fish ingestion, and submersion. The user is provided the option at the time of execution to change the default values of most of the variables, with the exception of the dose conversion factor values. AQUAMAN is written in FORTRAN for the PDP-10 computer.

The effects of sodium cromoglycate and ketotifen were studied in a group of 20 patients in whom fish repeatedly provoked an attack of wheezing and dyspnoea within one hour of its being eaten. Fish ingestion resulted in a fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of at least 15%. All patients had a weal greater than 4 mm in response to fish antigen in the skinprick test and most had blood eosinophilia and raised serum IgE levels. Administration of drugs and placebos was carried out under double-blind conditions, in a randomised fashion, on different days. Cromoglycate blocked the fall in FEV1 either completely or significantly in 16 patients. Ketotifen did not appear to have any significant effect in the group as a whole.