| Marine Algal Toxins: Origins, Health Effects, and Their Increased Occurrence Frances M. Van Dolah Marine Biotoxins Program, NOAA National Ocean Service, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, Charleston, South Carolina USA Abstract
Certain marine algae produce potent toxins that impact human health through the consumption of contaminated shellfish and finfish and through water or aerosol exposure. Over the past three decades, the frequency and global distribution of toxic algal incidents appear to have increased, and human intoxications from novel algal sources have occurred. This increase is of particular concern, since it parallels recent evidence of large-scale ecologic disturbances that coincide with trends in global warming. The extent to which human activities have contributed to their increase therefore comes into question. This review summarizes the origins and health effects of marine algal toxins, as well as changes in their current global distribution, and examines possible causes for the recent increase in their occurrence. Key words: amnesic shellfish poisoning, diarrhetic shellfish poisoning, dinoflagellates, domoic acid, global climate change, harmful algal blooms, marine toxins, neurotoxic shellfish poisoning, okadaic acid, paralytic shellfish poisoning. -- Environ Health Perspect 108(suppl 1) :133-141 (2000) . http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2000/suppl-1/133-141vandolah/abstract.html
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