Dangers of eating shark fins

① Research by an environmental investigation team shows that shark fin soup contains a high concentration of toxic substance ─ mercury, and mercury is harmful to the human higher nervous system. Two random toxicity tests conducted on shark fins sold in Bangkok showed that shark fins, a delicious and high-end nutritional product, were contaminated with mercury to a degree of up to 70%, and the mercury content that could be absorbed by the human body was 42 times higher than the normal allowable content. The source of mercury is untreated wastewater. Australia and New Zealand have also recently issued warnings to their citizens, specifically reminding pregnant women not to eat shark meat. Because excessive intake of mercury will cause great harm to pregnant women and their children, especially affecting the generation of children's brain and nerve cells. Most of the mercury in shark fins comes from polluted seawater, and sharks are at the highest position in the food chain, so the mercury in their bodies can always accumulate.

Nowadays, people regard shark fin as a delicacy and nourishing food, and there is a "shark fin craze". According to statistics, the purpose of this popular science wall chart display event jointly organized by the Municipal Association for Science and Technology, the International Wildlife Association and the Guangzhou Aquarium is to allow citizens to re-understand sharks and not eat shark fins.

A study by the Guangzhou Aquarium found that shark fins contain much higher levels of mercury or other heavy metals than other fish. This is because humans continue to discharge wastewater from industrial production processes into the ocean, resulting in high levels of mercury and other heavy metals in the seawater, which also affects marine life. Sharks are at the top of the marine food chain and tend to accumulate large amounts of pollution toxins in their bodies. In addition to causing male infertility, mercury can also damage the central nervous system and kidneys if the content in the human body is too high. Therefore, eating more shark meat and shark fins may be harmful to the human body.

② According to a report by the US "Huffington Post" this morning, a latest US study shows that making shark fins not only puts a large number of sharks on the verge of extinction, but also may cause senility due to high concentrations of neurotoxins. Dementia.

The study was published in the latest issue of the journal "Marine Medicines". Scientists from the University of Miami in the United States analyzed shark fins in Florida waters and found that sharks contain high concentrations of β-methylamino- L-alanine (BMAA), a neurotoxin linked to Alzheimer's disease and Lou Gehrig's disease. Experts believe that eating shark meat and shark cartilage may harm the health of those who eat it.

Scientists tested seven species of sharks, including blacknose sharks, blacktip reef sharks, narrow-headed hammerhead sharks, bull sharks, great hammerhead sharks, lemon sharks and nurse sharks. The shark meat samples contained BMAA concentrations of 144 to 1838 nanograms per milligram, which are comparable to those found in the brains of Alzheimer's and Lou Gehrig's disease patients.

The researchers said that the concentration of BMAA in the samples is worrying, and it is not only found in shark fins, but also in other foods such as health supplements consumed by humans. Still, as many as 70 million sharks have their fins removed and thrown back into the sea to die every year. "No buying and selling, no killing." Researchers hope that the results of this study will help discourage the practice of cutting off shark fins.

This neurotoxin can damage nerves

“The structure of β-methylamino-L-alanine is somewhat similar to that of amino acids, but it has more methane than alanine in amino acids. Amino acids become 'amino acids' that cannot form proteins and are neurotoxins," said Liu Qingchun, deputy director of the Nutrition Department of the Armed Police General Hospital.

This neurotoxin can cause damage to the nervous system, leading to muscle atrophy, affecting the digestive system, respiratory system, etc., and eventually death due to inability to eat. However, β-methylamino-L-alanine is not a common substance, so there is currently no standard for its toxic and lethal dose.

This substance can be found in the seeds of Cycadaceae plants, and is now found in the bodies of sharks. Eating it may be harmful to the body. The most common food related to sharks is shark fins.

The man who protects sharks on Zhandihua Street was beaten

A conservationist, the man who protects sharks, called for people not to eat shark fins during the Chinese New Year. The day before yesterday, he held a slogan that read, "Shark fins are poisonous." The crowds of people protested by placing signs on the New Year Street in Beishi. This suicidal act attracted five men who were suspected of being businessmen and attacked them. What was outrageous was that the police officers on duty at the time did not come forward to help. The shark guard was dissatisfied and filed a lawsuit. , "Don't give in to violence!" Yesterday, he went to raise a placard again, but when he went into the supermarket to buy drinks, the placard was stolen. He said, "It doesn't matter, we can make signs quickly!"

Shark Protection Male Shi Bohan (26 years old) told "Apple" that he worked as an assistant at his own animal hospital in Kaohsiung City. Three years ago, he and his colleagues promoted shark protection actions online. This year, he made special shark protection slogans and trimmed shark heads. Starting from this Tuesday He started to go north to Dihua Street to appeal against eating shark fin, but he was beaten. When the incident happened, the police only verbally dissuaded him but did not come to help.

Hold a sign saying "Shark's fin is poisonous"

In response, the Taipei City Police said yesterday that there were indeed police officers directing traffic at the intersection, and they are trying to figure out whether the police officers handled it improperly. Several police officers have been identified so far. suspect. The man who protected the sharks went to hold a sign for the second time the day before yesterday. He wrote the words "Shark fins are poisonous" on the sign to remind the public that eating shark fins containing heavy metals will cause illness. Suddenly five men claiming to be from the management committee appeared and threatened, "If you hold up the sign again, It will be bad for you." The shark guard man got into an argument with them and was beaten up.

Contains neurotoxins and eating shark fins may damage the brain

Shi Pian/Comprehensive Report About 70 million sharks have their fins cut off and thrown back into the sea to die every year. The latest research has found that human consumption of shark fins not only harms the ecology, but the neurotoxins contained in them may also increase people's chances of suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Suspected to cause Alzheimer's disease

A study published in the American journal Marine Drugs found that shark fins contain high concentrations of "β-methylamino-L" -Alanine (BMAA) is a neurotoxin that is thought to be related to Alzheimer's disease and Lou Gehrig's disease, commonly known as ALS. Researchers took out small pieces of fins from seven species of sharks in Florida waters and analyzed them. They found that every milligram (1 millionth of a gram) of the sample contained 144 to 1838 nanograms (1 billionth of a gram) of BMAA. Researcher Marsh said such concentrations are close to those found in patients with Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Previous research has found that people in Guam who eat fruit bats containing BMAA for a long time are more likely to develop brain degenerative diseases.

Lin Jieliang, director of the Clinical Toxicology Department of Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, said yesterday that BMAA already exists in the food chain. This study only inferred from the results, and it is not certain that BMAA causes brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Cause of disease.