IT’S a poisoned gift that just keeps on giving. A powerful neurotoxin produced by some algal blooms has been found in the deep ocean, where it can stay for weeks after a bloom has died.
Fish such as sardines and anchovies eat algae, some species of which contain the toxin domoic acid. If consumed in sufficient quantities, the toxin can affect sea lions, birds and humans. Fertilisers leaching into coastal waters are triggering more and more blooms, and beach closures have cost the US economy millions. In people, the poison can cause symptoms such as headaches and memory loss,…
