i WMiiýFRE~E PR-ESS, DNEMSÉÉFEÀUAY21, 1D9, PAGE 19 Projict 'Pins down a ae that causec mus$eI' poisoning, By Lorraine Bkown The unusuial 'bloomý' of toxn- producing algae responsible t'or the 1987 episode otf poisonings from cultivated Prince' Edward Island mussels may have resulted from environmental changes caused by the mussel 'farms'1 themnselves, Canadian scientists studying the case hai7e suggested. The researchers also suggest mussel, farmers faced %vith a siiiar bloom might be able to save th 1 Ir 'crops' by shifting or, modifyi jg their operations. The toxic substance t hat contamninated P. E. 1; mussels, resulting* in 106 fooçi poisoning cases and five deaths in 1987, has been the subject ýof intense research 'by scientis s. at the Bedford Institute of Oieanography in Dartmouth, Nova S'otia. The toxin, produced by a microscopic alga that :bloomed in the water at the rime tlýat the toxic mussels were harvesred, wvas identified as domoic acid. Previously fzund only in a Japanese seav'ced, domoic acid ca«,ses cramps, vomniting, diarrhea. diîôrientation and-!memory loss, and* perhaps* death in. weaker victJims. (The deaîths occurred in 'people in* their ýseventies and eighties.). The toxic .5hellfish wvere limited to , ?ne small area: Cardigan Bay on the, cast coast of ,PEI, where mussels are intensely cultivated. Sci ntists are stili trying to detrrmine whether 'some unusual c bination of conditions in Cadgan Bay led to tlite b!oomn. Dr. James E. Stewart of . the Bedford Insiitute says that aquacuiture pract ices themselves may be changing. the, environmient in thebay. "i n aquaculture areas, therle is far More organic mnaterial in ýthe water, he says. "ea matter from the mussels means the water contains- more nutrients, which in turn can 1 -ad ro algal bloomns. But this connection is still hypothetical." In Cardigan Bay, aquaculture proçluces about five tonnes of mu$'sels per hectare of water surface. In 1987, the area produced over 350 tonnes of live niussc Is. Stewart also says t hat algal bloomns secm to «build up 4 nly in certain semsons, an] certain years. He adds that, in times of algal blooms, mussel farmhers could move aquaculture opel!ations away, change harvesting times, or even place a ffected mussels in uncontaminated water and give them a few weeks 10 eliminate the toxins from their tissues. Mussel;',are now being monitored very CIO ley in eastern Canada. Samples from, every -producer are inspected for a variety of roxins. If there is any sign or toxin, the inspectors immediately increase the amount of testing. If toxins-reach a level determined by the Department ofl, Health, and Welfare to be dangerous, the shellfish are raken SER PAGE 33 3 A. . Aif:schia pungenY mulntià eries algae ofien join (hemselves together in long, chain-like struliures. (D 1' Subba Rao-, Bedford Institute of Oceanography) An alga of. the species Xit-schia pungens multiseries. Canadian researchers have found these algae produced the toxin'-in the 1987 P.E.I. mussel poisoning incident. (Photo courtesy D.V. Subba Rao) ROYAL CONSERVATORY 0 F muJsic WHTBY - THEORY WINTER 1990 FÃ,ut ConHOM" a m Dsitound CathyLoe Lorl-Ann Schoft pznKarxtiluea. I" Miche». Carke Jomdfr mia Caey Dawn Joff. Dald John Laduik Netsl D. Kin.plq Aathny OniÙIuk Firat CM Hamm Taff Mrie Ch**e P-ndra Tom Uao. JenifeK iroe Shirly u EldnThamn- JennifePudge Jin Le Grouix Honoew Wuie NU Justine Rai.. Se BeclyDegaf MKeim .VaIhadan Krbl.ofoff JenniferWu Jacquéline Amie Mitchel Pau A" B oullea Abahm GEADE i1RUIMIM FïWut a Honora iith Distinctio lin Allion Carnei Sna raLeinnieCampbell JulianneAide Chantal foir. Davidchuk Jamnifer maaaotta Michael James Adams Sarah Cathieine Chiett NefiGowe Pauleotte Palumbo Tfl yLouise Eliott Fiït Con Honoear Rhianncn EKFilp Arigela Porte Lait Lee Wedch Brencla Ami Hmoey Suzinne Nevil. Honora CruigEeet Lue ElaimLi Angek Onow Pkùwt Cn Honm ah tADistncion Jenihr Borrdie KLr.me Murny Dougals C. A. Gordai Heathr mllxm ERUion. DX. Monique Muelle SUDit.Rames Ru.i AMm.. Elmbeth Kola Plw Ut CoHoew" Adrian V. Mndes Mechae Z. C. Filip Pau Jinie L>ra.L Jfyouwait toko ask us Jack Grant Broker, President Grace Grant Vice President We've put Coldwell Banker to the test.- And we're happy to say we have got a lot of good experiences to share. Give us a eaul, we'll talk about how Coldwell Banker treats the best in the business - you and me. 668-4000 @1989 ColdweII Banker R~esiia Real E&aM. Prmented by An Indcpcdently Owned and Operaed Member Broker of Coldwdll Banker Affihia of Canada mncc COLDWELL BANKER à s a rcgie=ed tradcmakof ColdwelI Banker and Compmny. Se.madm d~ TRAFALGAR REALTY INC. nESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE