The
article that I read and researched was about a study preformed on shark fins
and shark meat. This study focuses on an effect that shark meat and fins have
on humans that consume it. Scientists from the University of Miami found high
concentrations of toxins linked to neurodegenerative diseases in the fins and
muscles of 10 species of sharks (Biology News 2016). The scientist took samples
from shark tissues in these 10 species from both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.
After performing test on these samples they reported results of high
concentration of “mercury and β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA). Recent studies
have linked BMAA to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. While
both mercury and BMAA by themselves pose a health risk, together they may also
have synergistic toxic impacts.” (Biology News 2016).
Shark
isn’t something that we come across very often in the United States culture,
but it is something that is used in many meals of the Asian culture. The Asian
culture is one of the biggest in the world and is one that is spreading fast to
all continents. There are many Asian communities here in the United States and
there is a strong possibility that everyone has tried some of their food at one
time or another. I personally love sushi and seafood and I’m sure I’ve eaten
shark meat before. Knowing that this meat could be harmful to my body makes me
concerned and also makes me wonder what other meat that we consume might carry
harmful toxins as well. "People should be aware and consider restricting
consumption of shark parts. Limiting the consumption of shark parts will have positive
health benefits for consumers and positive conservation outcomes for sharks”
(Biology News 2016).
B. (216, August 29). Study finds shark fins & meat
contain high levels of neurotoxins linked to Alzheimer's
disease. Retrieved March 07, 2018, from http://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_me dium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A
biologynews%2Fheadlines %28Biology News Net%29
I wonder what causes shark meat to be toxic? also if shark meat is toxic then what about all the other fish in the ocean? since they are swimming with the sharks and probably circulating in the same areas wouldn't other fish species have the same effect?
ReplyDeleteI am thinking that the answer to your questions could be solved by thinking about a sharks raking in the Ocean. They are a larger fish who eat all of the smaller fish which contain mercury. I am sure over a period time they become toxic due to what they eat. which could also answer that the smaller fish that don't typically eat other fish have a smaller mercury level.
DeleteMelanie Tiedemann
I agree with the last comment about sharks consuming other fish that could increase their mercury content. However, it isn't just what sharks consume and their meat that can affect us. I was reading about how cows that were raised purely on a grass diet can actually increase the ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 from 6:1 to 1:1. So the diet that the livestock that consumes that we use as produce can change our nutrient content that may or may not affect us and may even change the susceptibility of certain diseases. JZ
DeleteIt is true that shark meat contains many toxic chemicals that can kill or severely harm humans in they ingest it. Something called bioaccumulation happens in sharks, and this is when these animals absorb these high levels of chemicals and heavy metals from consuming prey and through skin absorption. The main chemicals that sharks contain are urea, arsenic, lead, and mercury. To address your question about other fish having these chemicals, the answer is yes they do. They are just in such small amounts that have accumulated in them that it does not have a large effect on humans when we consume them. Sharks have a very large concentration of these chemicals because they are strictly carnivorous and accumulate it from eating so much of their prey and from the environment that they are surrounded by. While these chemicals might not be in dangerous numbers for the sharks, they can be extremely toxic to humans. You can check out this link for some more information on this subject: https://www.sharksider.com/shark-meat-delicacy-dangerous/
Delete- Davis Zwicky
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your last statement, with being aware of what you eat can have an major impact on your life and or health. Anytime someone decides to eat fish there is always a possibility of consuming high mercury. If eating shark meats shows to cause health issues it would be nice to have a warning label associated with it like alcohol. who knows, that is probably reaching. very interesting find.
ReplyDeleteMelanie Tiedemann
This is a very interesting read, although it does not seem that surprising. Sharks are known to consume everything they encounter, and I am sure that their diet effects their toxicity. Having been raised in the Northwest we encountered a similar thing with salmon, where they naturally carry a large portion of mercury. It will be interesting to see what other scientific discoveries are made in relation to our diet and the diseases we face. Specifically in regards to Alzheimer, having had a few close family friends go through that, I know how devastating it can be.
ReplyDelete^ Ben Bryson
DeleteI wonder if sharks over their lifetime come down with something similar to Alzheimers. If the things found in shark meat can cause us to have Alzheimers, are the sharks immune to them or does it, over an unknown period of time, become present in their lives? I have family members that have passed away from similar diseases and if sharks are immune to the things that can cause it maybe we can find something in their DNA that we can try and replicate for humans to one day become immune. - SL
ReplyDeletevery interesting article . What made you want to research sharks and Alzheimers ? Was it Alzheimers that caught your attention ? and also on your comment on fish and sharks causing Alzheimer's would you still want to eat it ?
ReplyDelete-linnah rebolledo
This is a cool article! It's cool to learn about different weird things that cause harm to the body. My question is, if the Asian culture eats so much more of the shark, does that mean a lot more of them end up with Alzheimer's? I'm wondering this because if it is so harmful to society, why would they still provide it?
ReplyDelete- Kayla I.
I think that it is super interesting that such high levels of those harmful substances can be found in sharks. It makes me wonder the true impact that it has on us as we consume such meats or food products. In my opinion, I find it hard to think that the consumption of shark meat is actually a factor in the cause of Alzheimers. My reasoning would be that there are many many people who never consume meat from sharks and end up with the disease. It also makes be wonder because I have tried to find where the highest percentage for Alzheimers occurrence is in the world and it seems fairly stable across the map which means that in cultures where more shark meat is consumed, it is not having a very large effect. However, it would be interesting to continue with that research and see where we could find direct correlation to the impact of the sharks with those harmful toxins.
ReplyDelete-Tyler H.
In response to Kayla's question:
ReplyDeleteWhile shark meat could definitely be linked to the development of Alzheimers, it is not the sole cause of the disease. There are genetic components to Dementia and Alzheimers. The diseases might also have a connection to poor handling of waste products in some countries. However, a predominant theory about the cause of these diseases is that an increase in the consumption of animal fats and a decrease in the consumption of grains and vegetables increases the risk of contracting Dementia or Alzheimers. There is a definite difference in the frequency of the diseases between people with normal diets and vegetarians with the latter being up to three times less likely to develop Alzheimers. The likely increase in the frequency of Alzheimers in Asian countries and especially Japan is due more to the change in the general diet of the population. As their economy grows, their general standard of wealth rises, and their subsequent ability to produce more meat and to import more meat grows, the diets of Asian countries have slowly shifted to a predominantly meat based diet rather than their historically rice dominated one. It has less to do with the consumption of sharks and more to do with the increased consumption of all kinds of meat. This trend is shown on the opposite end of the scale as well. The area of the world where Alzheimers is the least common is a relatively poor part of India where meat is not only expensive, but of religious significance as well. -SP