Investigation of the Toxicology and Public Health Aspects of the Marine
Investigation of the Toxicology and Public Health Aspects of the Marine Cyanobacterium, Lyngbya majuscula Thesis submitted by Nicholas John Osborne Bachelor of Science, Faculty of Science, University of Adelaide Bachelor of Science (Hons.), School of Medicine, The Flinders University of South Australia Master of Agricultural Science, School of Land and Food, University of Queensland A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy m the School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Queensland 2004 THE{iSKaa!DF2:;2KSUIfflUBaARt Declaration of Originality I declare that the work presented in this thesis, to the best of my knowledge and belief is original and my own work, except as acknowledged in the text, and that the material has not been submitted, either in whole or in part for a degree at this or any other university. Nicholas John Osborne 2004 Abstract Lyngbya majuscula is a filamentous marine cyanobacterium with a worldwide distribution in temperate and tropical regions to a depth of 30m. Over 70 chemicals have been isolated and characterised from this organism, many of which are biologically active. Dramatic responses have been elicited after human exposure to lyngbyatoxin A (LA) and debromoaplysiatoxin (DAT), toxins extracted from L. majuscula. These chemicals have been found to cause irritation at concentrations as low as 100 pmol and exposure of humans to this cyanobacterium in the enviroimient is associated with irritant contact dermatitis, as well as eye and respiratory irritation. Previously, L. majuscula has been reported as implicated in negative health outcomes only in Hawaii and Okinawa. Recently large blooms of L.
[Show full text]