Harmful effect

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The tumor promoter (hepatotoxin) nodularin (a cyclic pentapeptide) has been found in many strains of this brackish water species. It is known from the Baltic sea to accumulate in blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and in fish such as the flounder (Platichthys flesus) and the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus). The fish obtain the toxin by eating the toxic mussels, and the toxin is mainly concentrated in the liver of the fish. Concentration in the flesh has been documented in the round goby. Human swimming in a bloom may cause a rash, probably caused by lipopolysaccharide endoxins.

Runnegar, M. T., Jackson & A. R.; Falconer, I. R. (1988). Toxicity of the cyanobacterium Nodularia spumigena Mertens. Toxicon. 26(2): 143-151.

Sipiä, V.O., Kankanpää, H.T., Flinkman, J., Lahti, K. & Meriluoto, J.A.O. (2001). Time-dependent accumulation of cyanobacterial hepatotoxins in flounders (Platichthys flexus) and mussels (Mytilus edulis) from the northern Baltic Sea. Environmental Toxicology 16: 330-336.

Mazur-Marzec, H., Sutryk, K., Kobos, J., Hebel, A., Hohlfeld, N., Blaszczyk, A., Torunska, A., Kaczkowska, M.J., Lysiak-Pastuszak, E., Krasniewski, W. & Jasser, I. (2013). Occurrence of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin in the Southern Baltic proper. Filamentous cyanobacteria versus single-celled picocyanobacteria. Hydrobiologia 701: 235-252.