Although home aquariums make a beautiful addition and present many health benefits to families, they can also bring added danger. As the emergence of marine toxins increase, medical professionals advise aquarium enthusiasts to be mindful of a little-known risk that comes with purchasing and maintaining coral. In specific, zoanthids, which contain a hidden poison called palytoxin. Over the years, the media has released several case studies regarding individuals and families who have become seriously ill from palytoxin due to an exposure to zoanthid corals. This essay provides a scenario of a family from Orlando, Florida who became ill after improperly cleaning the families collection of zoanthid corals in their aquarium.
Zoanthid corals are …show more content…
Mr. Mandoza and his wife recently purchased zoanthid corals for their family aquarium. Within a week, the Mandoza family realized that there was a brown species growing from the corals, which was destroying the other marine life in their aquarium. Mr. Mandoza decided it was time to clean out the aquarium by removing the zoanthids, and boiled them in the kitchen in hopes of removing the mysterious brown species. Little did he know that the species was actually a toxin known as Palytoxin. While the corals were boiling in the pot, Mrs. Mandoza began to prepare dinner for the family while her twin sons played Xbox in the living room. Forgetting that she helped Mr. Mandoza remove the corals with her bare hands, she rubbed her right …show more content…
Researchers and medical professionals continue to try to figure out the best protective gear to use when handling zoanthids and other toxic corals, as there are currently no evidence-based recommendations. Although there have been no documented fatalities from an exposure to palytoxin, this could change if the government does not crack down on zoanthid retailers and require them to properly label these corals and warn their customers. This scenario is one of many well document cases of human poisoning due to exposure of zoanthid corals while attempting to clean a home
Zoanthid corals are …show more content…
Mr. Mandoza and his wife recently purchased zoanthid corals for their family aquarium. Within a week, the Mandoza family realized that there was a brown species growing from the corals, which was destroying the other marine life in their aquarium. Mr. Mandoza decided it was time to clean out the aquarium by removing the zoanthids, and boiled them in the kitchen in hopes of removing the mysterious brown species. Little did he know that the species was actually a toxin known as Palytoxin. While the corals were boiling in the pot, Mrs. Mandoza began to prepare dinner for the family while her twin sons played Xbox in the living room. Forgetting that she helped Mr. Mandoza remove the corals with her bare hands, she rubbed her right …show more content…
Researchers and medical professionals continue to try to figure out the best protective gear to use when handling zoanthids and other toxic corals, as there are currently no evidence-based recommendations. Although there have been no documented fatalities from an exposure to palytoxin, this could change if the government does not crack down on zoanthid retailers and require them to properly label these corals and warn their customers. This scenario is one of many well document cases of human poisoning due to exposure of zoanthid corals while attempting to clean a home