A New Study Reveals Fish Poisoning is More Wide Spread Than Previously Thought

Barracuda and some other species of common sport fish are responsible for high prevalence of "fish poisoning," a new study shows, The New York Times reported.

The poisoning is caused by a toxin called Ciguatera, which is a chemical produced by algae that lives in warm waters. The toxin can be picked up by coral reef fish and then bigger fish that feed on smaller coral fish would have more accumulated amounts of the toxin in their bodies. People who consume these big fish would ingest a bigger portion of the toxin, which eventually makes them sick. The mechanism of the toxin is the same with heavy metal poisoning and its accumulation in human body, which can be explained by the food chain principles.

Experts say that the study showed that the problem was much more common around the globe than scientists ever acknowledged, especially among the communities where fishing is a daily practice. The poisoning is more common in warm waters but epidemiologist Elizabeth G. Radke from University of Florida's Emerging Pathogens Institute told the Times that the toxin could be introduced to the north, where the water is not as warm, simply due to the fact that fish migrate.

The study published in The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene also noted that Hispanics had the highest toxin levels in their blood, which might be explained by their preference for barracuda over other fish.

The Times reported that symptoms of "fish poisoning" include severe vomiting, as early as within three hours of ingesting the fish, in addition to pain in the mouth and muscle weakness of the lower extremities, and tingling sensations in the hands, feet and mouth. Although many people recover quickly, some of the neurological symptoms may linger for months after the exposure. The Times noted that scientists do not recommend eating barracuda at all and they advise caution when picking fish; recommending smaller fish since neither cooking nor freezing changes the level or effect of the toxin.