There are several species of toxic microalgae?

Fibrous algae - Phaeocystis globosa - blooming flowers foaming on the coast of Binh Thuan sea in April 2005 - Photo: Binh Thuan Department of Science and Technology

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Lam - Head of marine zooplankton, Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography (Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology) - said that in Khanh Hoa waters alone, there were at least 44 species of microalgae capable of causing toxicity. Harm found.

In coastal areas across the country, scientists have found at least 70 species of algae capable of producing toxins harmful to humans. Meanwhile, science has also been recorded in the world with about 300 species of phytoplankton forming blooms with density up to millions of cells / liter.

About a quarter of all species cause blooms that produce toxins. According to Dr. Lam, this is a threat, can even destroy the flora and fauna, including affecting human health. Many scientific research results have recorded algal toxin accumulation in fish or shellfish species.

The chemical structure of algae toxins in nature is very different, but they cannot be destroyed or reduced when cooking even at high temperatures, especially algae toxins do not affect the taste. of food, it is more difficult for humans to detect them.

QT