The villagers on Monday as well woke up to the same surprising scene of different species of fishes floating in the water. While the villagers have raised concern over the turn of event, some of them took the easy catch to their home.
“We catch fish in this creek on a regular basis. While we had been noticing fish floating in water for last two days, on Monday we found hundreds of them floating dead. The species include Catla (Bhakura) and Rohu (Rohi). We suspect water pollution may be a cause. The angle of someone adding poison to water to catch fish can’t be ruled out,” said Prasanna Behera, a local resident.
At a time when the cause of such a huge number of fish dying is yet to be ascertained, the regional officer of Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) said a test would reveal the actual cause of the mass death.
A few days back, Hilsa fish, which was being sold at Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 per kilogram in the district is now being sold between the price range of Rs 130 to Rs 450.
"The prices of the fish have significantly dropped from Rs 4000 per kilo to Rs 200 per kilo," fish trader Ramesh Chandra Sethi said.
While a pair of small sized fish now costs Rs 130, a large pair is priced at Rs 450.
According to sources, because of low pressure triggered rain, fishes are swarming the coast and supply has increased. However, due to lack of godown space the fishes are being offered to consumers at low prices, informed sources.
"In the last 2 days our catch has increased due to the weather. So we have reduced the prices," another fish trader Anjan Samal said.
"We never imagined such a huge price drop. We, the residents of Paradip are happy and satisfied," a fish buyer Prakash Chandra Rout said.
According to reports, a team of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) raided a godown at Press Chhak in the city and collected samples for examination at the food testing laboratory in Bhubaneswar.
The eight samples collected by officials of the civic body from various fish outlets in Cuttack on Monday tested negative, informed the officials.
“We have collected two samples of ‘Rohi’ and ‘Bhakura’ fishes so far and they have tested negative. More samples will be collected from consignments after they arrive here from Andhra Pradesh. Raids will be conducted in other markets later in the day,” informed Cuttack district fisheries officer, Rabinarayan Patnaik.
“We had earlier collected eight samples from Cuttack markets and found no traces of formalin in it. However as per direction of the Government, there will be frequent checks and if the chemical is found in any fish, the stock will be destroyed and appropriate action will be taken against the seller,” said Food Safety officer of CMC, PK Pradhan.
Similarly, the Food Inspector and health officials of Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) also conducted raids in different fish markets and godowns.
Fish markets in Balasore Town were also raided and samples were collected for the tests .
On Tuesday, similar searches were conducted in Sambalpur and Bolangir fish markets and samples were sent for examination.
Earlier the Commissioner of Food Safety, in a letter, had directed all the District Public Health Officers-cum-Designated Officers and Municipal Corporations of the State to collect samples of fish and send it to the Central Food Testing Laboratory for examination.
Officials of the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation (SMC) collected the samples from various fish markets in the town and sent it for examination. However, the fish mongers asserted that they had stopped importing from Andhra Pradesh after traces of Formalin were found in their supply.
“Acting on a letter issued by the Commissioner of Food Safety following complaints on presence of harmful chemicals in fishes, a joint team of Fisheries department and Enforcement squad of SMC conducted raids in different markets of the city today. We have collected the samples and will be sending them or tests,’ informed Sambalpur Food Safety Inspector, Prataprudra Mandal.
The officials conducted searches and collected samples from two wholesalers in Tangli Bazaar. The team also visited Motijharan but as the market was locked, we could be only collect samples from retailers, the official added.
Similarly, officials of the Supplies department in Bolangir raided the fish shops at Rugudipada and collected samples to test the presence of Formalin in it.
“Formalin is a chemical applied on fishes to preserve it for longer period and their consumption is injurious to health. We have collected the samples and will be sending them for examination. Based on the reports, further action will be taken,” said Bolangir District Food Security Inspector, Arun Kumar Chatterjee.
“We usually sell local fishes. We have no problem if raids are being carried out,” said a fish seller.
On Monday, the Commissioner of Food Safety, in a letter, directed all the District Public Health Officers-cum-Designated Officers and Municipal Corporations of the State to collect samples of fish and send it to the National Food Testing Laboratory.
Earlier, traces of cancer-causing Formalin were detected from Pomfret fish samples in Bhubaneswar following which the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) on Monday, conducted raids on several fish markets and godowns.
Citing reports in 'electronic & print media,' the commissioner asked the authorities to instruct concerned food safety officers to collect random fish samples.
On the other hand, Jai Jawan Fish Traders' Association said that seafood will not be sold in Bhubaneswar for next 10 days. The decision has been taken by the body keeping in view the safety of consumers.
According to sources, a meeting of the working committee of the association will be held later to take further decision.
"After Formalin was detected we have decided not to sell fish for the next 10 days. Only after a working committee meeting, further course of action will be decided," member of Jai Jawan Fish Traders' Association, Jambeswar Mallick said.
Earlier, traces of cancer-causing Formalin were detected from Pomfret fish samples in Bhubaneswar following which the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) conducted raids on several fish markets and godowns yesterday.
The health wing of the municipal corporation led by food inspector raided the fish markets and collected samples for examination.
Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Secretary, Vishal Gagan on July 13 had confirmed that, “Traces of cancer-causing Formalin was found in Pomfret fish samples collected from Unit-4 fish market in Bhubaneswar.”
The health wing of the municipal corporation led by food inspector raided the fish markets and collected samples for examination.
Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Secretary Vishal Gagan on on July 13 had confirmed that, “Traces of cancer-causing Formalin was found in Pomfret fish samples collected from Unit-4 fish market in Bhubaneswar.”
This had then rung alarming bell among the people of Odisha as a majority of the population love to have fish in their menu.
Meanwhile, Odisha government has now swung into action and special kits despatched to several coastal districts where huge quantities of fish are being imported from other neighbouring States.
The kits will be used by field officers to check presence of any adulteration and detection of any prohibitory substances to preserve fish stocks.
Formalin is reported to be frequently added as preservative either by dipping or spraying to the fresh fishes by the fish traders to prevent spoilage and extend shelf life.
“After coming to know that such dangerous chemical substances are being used by fish dealers in Andhra Pradesh to preserve fish for a longer time, I have asked the Secretary of Fisheries Directorate to look into the matter and with the help of experts, investigate on the quality of fish being imported to Odisha,” Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy said
It may be noted that the Assam government on Wednesday banned import and sale of fish imported from Andhra Pradesh and other states for a period of 10 days after some samples were found laced with formalin.The presence of formalin content in the fish came to notice after the laboratory test carried out by the state health department.
Briefing media persons after presiding over a meeting of Airport Environment Management Committee at the State Secretariat here today, he said the main concern of the city airport was the bird hits. “However, due to our efforts in the last few months, the number of bird hits has come down appreciably,” he added.
Padhi said the meeting also decided to take other steps like drainage, tree pruning, disposal of garbage from the slums in airport periphery, regulate open sale of meat, fish and chicken by unauthorised and unregistered shops.
“To take up the aforesaid activities a six-month action plan was drawn up at the meeting to further bring down the incidence of bird hits,” he informed.
The chief secretary also said specific instructions have been given to the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), Commissionerate Police, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) as well as the Forest and Environment department to put up their combined efforts to bring down the bird flu incidence in the city airport. All of them have taken adequate steps in this regard since last one year.
He, however, said this is a continuous process. We have to keep constant watch to ensure that there will be no incident of bird hits in the airport in future. “Basically, it is a risk management job and we have to constantly monitor the situation,” Padhi noted.
Director of the airport, Ramaswami Mahalingam, said such meetings are held in every six months to take stock of the bird hazards and animal management in the airport periphery.
“We had our last meeting in May last year and since then a lot of improvement has been made. We have solved the drainage issue. This was a major problem as birds are generally found where there is water. Since there was drainage problem, the water used to stagnate and attract more birds. Now drainage work is completed and the water is smoothly flowing under it, there is no water stagnation. As a result, the number of birds in the airport periphery has drastically come down,” he said, while thanking the BMC and the state government for their sincere cooperation.
One of the major problems was the dumping of garbage in the open by the people living in the vicinity of the airport. To sensitise them the airport authority, in association with BMC, has taken up awareness campaign and as a result, there has been proper garbage management in airport periphery. This process will continue. I want that the people living nearby the airport should cooperate with us to make the airport safe,” Mahalingam said.
The issue over Dasburma's alleged links with Artha Tatwa chit fund firm is snowballing so fast that comment from any politician, be it from ruling party or the Opposition, is becoming the talk of the town.
After Friday’s ‘rat’ remark by senior BJD leader Tathagat Satpathy ostensibly aimed at Dasburma, Rajya Sabha MP Pyarimohan Mohapatra referred to the minister as a ‘fish’ on Saturday.
“I will not tell anything against either Sanjay Dasburma or anybody else. Because, there are a lot of big fishes in it (chit fund scam). If the name of Sanjay has surfaced, then he is a small fish,” Mohapatra told media persons here referring to the minister’s role in the multi thousand crore chit fund scam in the State as very small.
When asked about his close relationship with Dasburma in the past, he retorted; “I have good relations with everybody in the BJD. I have not soured my relationship with anybody from my side.”
On Friday, making a veiled attack on the Bramhagriri legislator on the issue, Satpathy had said; “There are a lot of rats in the godowns of Food Corporation of India (FCI) across the country. These rats secretly eat rice, sugar and wheat in the godowns. Should we remove the stacks to save the food grains or check the entry of rats into the godowns?”
“The wise man will pick the rat and put it outside the godown very cleverly. And you don’t need to kill the rat as it will automatically die,” the parliamentarian continued in a scarcely veiled hint at the minister, who has invited criticism from his party members for the alleged favour he received from AT chit fund firm.
Prior to the Dhenkanal MP’s remark, senior party leaders, including Bhartruhari Mahatab, Nagendra Pradhan and Damodar Rout, had also raised fingers at the minister with the Cuttack MP appearing to agree with the Opposition demand for Dasburma to resign on moral grounds.
Pradhan had said those who are in positions of power should respect public opinion for the good of society. Recalling that Lord Ram had banished Sita despite knowing that she was not at fault, he had said; “Though Dasburma claims innocence, the chief minister will take a call on the issue,” the MP said.
Earlier, Mahatab, the leader of the BJD Parliamentary Party in Lok Sabha, had said the Opposition demand for the latter’s resignation was “a good suggestion.”
Commenting on today's development, BJD MP Kalikesh Singhdeo said, "In case of any decision with regard to the party, it is the party’s president who will take a call. If the government takes any decision, the chief minister will announce. In my opinion leaders from any other party should not comment on any of the party's affairs."
Fish oil is among the most common natural supplement for treatment of hypertriglyceridemia or prevention of cardiovascular disease.
However, concerns about theoretical bleeding risk have led to recommendations that patients should stop taking fish oil before surgery or delay in elective procedures for patients taking fish oil by some healthcare professionals.
The study, published in the journal Circulation, found that higher blood omega-3 levels -- eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) -- were associated with lower risk of bleeding.
For the study, 1,516 patients scheduled for cardiac surgery were randomised to omega-3s or placebo.
The dose was 6.5-8 grams of EPA+DHA over two-five days before surgery, and then 1.7 grams per day beginning the morning of surgery and continuing until discharge.
The findings showed that there was a significant reduction in the number of units of blood needed for transfusions.
In another analysis, the higher the blood EPA+DHA level on the morning of surgery, the lower the risk for bleeding, according to the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) criteria.
"The researchers in this study concluded that these findings support the need to reconsider current recommendations to stop fish oil or delay procedures for people on fish oil before cardiac surgery," said Bill Harris, Founder of OmegaQuant.
While Omega-3s, specifically EPA and DHA, are important for heart, brain, eye and joint health, most people do not get enough of these valuable fatty acids, which can increase their risk of the most serious health issues.
A team from Britain's University of Oxford identified a gene called lrrc10 in Mexican tetra fish.
The tetra fish (Astyanax Mexicanus) living in northern Mexico's rivers retained their ability to repair their heart tissue even after millions of years.
Humans suffering from heart failure cannot regenerate their damaged hearts and often the only cure is a heart transplant.
Researchers hope that by unlocking the secrets of these remarkable fish we will one day be able to heal human hearts in much the same way.
"A real challenge until now was comparing heart damage and repair in fish with what we see in humans. But by looking at river fish and cave fish side by side, we've been able to pick apart the genes responsible for heart regeneration," said lead author Mathilda Mommersteeg, Associate Professor at Oxford.
In the study, reported in the journal Cell Reports, the team found that fish in one particular cave, called Pachon, have lost the amazing ability to regenerate their heart as well as their colour and ability to see.
Mommersteeg and her team compared the genetic code of the river fish to that of the blind cave fish to discover what special mechanisms are required for heart repair in the period after heart injury.
They found three areas of the fish genome were implicated in the fish's ability to repair their hearts.
Two genes -- lrrc10 and caveolin -- were much more active in the river fish and could be key in allowing the river fish to repair their hearts.
Lrrc10 is already linked to a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in humans and have previously known to be involved in the way that heart cells contract with every heartbeat, the researchers said.
Further, the team analysed the effect of this gene in the zebrafish, another fish which has the remarkable ability to heal its own heart. When the team inactivated the lrrc10 gene in zebrafish they saw that the fish could no-longer fully repair their hearts.
Addressing a press conference here, Joint Secretary of the Society Dr. Shekhar Salkar said eating unwashed and raw fruits and vegetables could be more dangerous than eating fish-laced with formalin, a known carcinogenic agent which is used to preserve cadavers in morgues.
"World Health Organisation guidelines are quite clear that formalin does not cause cancer by ingestion, which means you will not get cancer if you consume formalin. But if inhaled -- like those who work with formalin products including nurses, doctors and those in the paint industry -- they can get a certain type of cancer," said Salkar, a leading oncologist himself.
The controversy involving use of formalin in fish erupted in July this year, after a state Health Ministry official found traces of formalin in fish being sold in Goa during a raid.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition government has been on the backfoot ever since the revelation, after several of its ministers were accused of protecting fish traders who were allegedly importing formalin-laced fish consignments into Goa from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
On Monday, the state government banned the fish-laden vehicles from neighbouring states from entering Goa, citing violation of new Food Drugs and Administration guidelines, which have made insulated trucks mandatory for transportation of fish to Goa, among other stringent regulations.
"You should take more care of fruits and vegetables. At least we clean fish, we wash it, we de-scale it, we add vinegar, salt, we boil it, we fry it... How can formalin remain in it? We do not even wash fruits. Earlier, we used to say eat raw food, because it is better. Today, we find it difficult to say 'eat raw food', because raw is more dangerous," Salkar said.
The findings indicated that pregnant women who had low plasma levels of long chain n-3 fatty acids -- found in fish oil -- in their first and second trimesters were at a significantly higher risk of preterm birth as compared with women who had higher levels of these fatty acids.
The researchers suggests that low concentrations of certain long chain fatty acids -- eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA+DHA) -- may be a strong risk factor for preterm birth.
"At a time when many pregnant women are hearing messages, encouraging them to avoid intake of fish altogether due to mercury content, our results support the importance of ensuring adequate intake of long chain omega-3 fatty acids in pregnancy," said lead author Sjurdur F. Olsen from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.
Preterm birth, is a leading cause of neonatal death and is associated with cognitive deficiencies and cardiometabolic problems later in life among survivors.
For the study, published in the journal EbioMedicine, the research team examined 96,000 children in Denmark through questionnaires and registry linkages.
They also analysed blood samples from 376 women who gave premature birth (prior to 34 weeks of gestation) between 1996 and 2003 and 348 women who had a full-term birth.
All of the women gave blood samples during their first and second trimesters of pregnancy.
The analysis of the blood samples showed that women who were in the lowest quintile of EPA+DHA serum levels -- with EPA+DHA levels of 1.6 per cent or less of total plasma fatty acids -- had a 10 times higher risk of early preterm birth when compared with women in the three highest quintiles, whose EPA+DHA levels were 1.8 per cent or higher.
Women in the second lowest quintile had a 2.7 times higher risk compared with women in the three highest quintiles.
The evidence was based on the analysis of microfossils entombed in the dental calculus -- commonly known as tooth plaque or tartar -- of a young male skeleton from Mesolithic period found in a cave on a Croatian island.
It revealed fish scale fragments and fish muscle fibres.
"Our data provides a novel perspective on forager diet in the Mediterranean region by revealing the role of marine organisms during the Mesolithic," said lead researcher Emanuela Cristiani from Sapienza University of Rome.
"Whilst fishing during the Mesolithic period has been demonstrated by fish remains as well as fishing related technologies in the past, here for the first time we have direct evidence that humans consumed these resources or used their teeth for de-scaling activities, which is very unique," added Harry Robson, from Britain's University of York.
However, the team was unable to identify the fish scales, although they were thought to be very similar to tuna, mackerel and gilthead sea bream.
The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, also showed microfossils of plants in the dental calculus, which has not been identified in skeletal remains in this part of the Mediterranean before.
"The recovery of starch granules from two wild grass groups in the dental calculus of the analysed individual, suggests that energy-rich plants were a part of the Holocene forager dietary habits in the region," Cristiani said.
"This is an exciting, but surprising finding. We only have three skeletal remains from this period that demonstrate the long-term consumption of marine-resources, so when you can identify microfossils of this kind, it can provide a great leap forward in our understanding."
Previous analysis of Mesolithic skeletal remains had suggested a more varied Mediterranean diet consisting of terrestrial, freshwater and marine food resources.
Higher levels of certain stress and immune genes help fish cope with warming temperature in water over the years, the findings showed.
Researchers examined how the fish's genes responded after several generations living at higher temperatures predicted under climate change.
"Some fish have a remarkable capacity to adjust to higher water temperatures over a few generations of exposure," said Heather Veilleux from James Cook University in Queensland.
"But until now, how they do this has been a mystery," Veilleux said.
Using cutting-edge molecular methods the research team identified 53 key genes that are involved in long-term, multi-generational acclimation to higher temperatures.
"We found significantly higher levels of metabolic gene activity in fish exposed to higher temperatures for two generations, indicating that shifts in energy production are central to maintaining performance at higher temperatures," Veilleux added.
"Immune and stress genes also responded at a higher level in the second generation, indicating that increased levels of these genes are required to allow these fish to better cope in warmer water," Veilleux said.
The findings appeared in the journal Nature Climate Change.
The project involved rearing coral reef fish at different temperatures for more than four years, and then testing their metabolic performance.
Some species of fish possess a unique physiological characteristic -- a web of arteries and veins lying very close together -- that enables them to raise their internal temperatures higher than that of the water surrounding them.
Certain species including some sharks and tunas possessing the ability to warm their core -- a process called endothermy -- are able to swim two and a half times faster than those whose body temperature doesn't change.
These species can also swim twice as far -- ranges comparable to those of warm-blooded animals such as penguins and other marine mammals.
"The cost of moving faster and farther is high so there has to be an ecological reason that outweighs the physiological expenditure," said Jenn Caselle, biologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
"These endothermic fishes are putting a lot more energy into each unit of movement than their cold-blooded counterparts are," Caselle noted.
For the study, the team combined existing data with new information they obtained by attaching sensors to several sharks in different locations around the world.
The researchers' analysis suggests that warmer "red" muscle endothermy permits speedier cruising and greater endurance, which in turn enables these fishes to swim long distances relatively quickly.
This characteristic allows the fishes to take advantage of seasonally variable food sources.
Endothermy evolved independently in these distinctly different groups of fishes, noted the study.
The two taxonomic groups diverged more than 450 million years ago, and their common ancestor was most likely cold-blooded.
"This research begins to shed light on possible reasons why these endothermic fish evolved in this way," Caselle concluded.
The study appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
According to a report by Daily Mail, the lady Isa Opdahl, who was chilling with her friends in a boat, had accidentally dropped her phone in the water body. In the video clip, the whale can be seen holding the phone in its mouth and giving it back to the lady.
In case you don't believe us, check for yourself.
Here's the video:
As per reports, the fishing and sale of the fish belonging to such rare species is completely banned in India.
Wildlife experts have said that like lions and tigers, this species of fish is protected under schedule -1 of the Wildlife Protection Act and demanded strict action against the people involved in the sale of the whale shark.
"The killing and sale of this type of fish is completely banned. The forest department should immediately look into the matter and take action. There is a trading racket which is operating and should be stopped immediately," said Anil Mohapatra, scientist at Zoological Survey of India.
No comments could be obtained from the Wildlife Department.
https://youtu.be/BM0Zv4mdqQw
This diet regimen activates a subset of T cells in the lungs not previously associated with the immune system's response to influenza, enhancing mucus production from airway cells that can effectively trap the virus, said the study published in the journal Science Immunology.
"This was a totally unexpected finding," said co-senior author Akiko Iwasaki, Professor at Yale University in the US.
The researchers found that mice fed a ketogenic diet were better able to combat the flu virus than mice fed food high in carbohydrates.
Specifically, the researchers found that the ketogenic diet triggered the release of gamma delta T cells, immune system cells that produce mucus in the cell linings of the lung -- while the high-carbohydrate diet did not.
When mice were bred without the gene that codes for gamma delta T cells, the ketogenic diet provided no protection against the influenza virus.
"This study shows that the way the body burns fat to produce ketone bodies from the food we eat can fuel the immune system to fight flu infection," said co-senior author Visha Deep Dixit, Professor at Yale University.
Maybe, those fascinating fad diets are to be blamed but there can be other reasons. Celebrity nutritionist Nmami Agarwal shares a few common diet mistakes that people do while losing weight.
Also Read: Bariatric Surgery Before Diabetes Leads To Greater Weight Loss
Eliminating Fats Completely
Fat is an important macro-nutrient. Period. Fats are crucial for brain health, heart health, gut health, and to provide suppleness to your skin. Many vitamins can only be absorbed by the body in the presence of fats. It's the type you choose to consume - refrain from having saturated fats like butter, margarine, hydrogenated and trans fats.
But, you must include essential fatty acids in your diet through foods like fatty fish, walnuts, seeds, avocados and eggs. Special mention to walnuts if you are a vegetarian/ vegan- as they are the only tree nuts highest in plant-based Omega-3 fatty acids that are vital for many body functions.
Fad Diet Trends
Diets that promise to do miracles with weight loss and force you to follow the process of starving or choosing specific foods is a big problem. Crash diets work by eliminating important food groups from your diet say- carbs or fats and rely on limited sources of energy. These diets might give you short-term results but are non-sustainable for longer periods and once you're back to your normal eating regime, your weight bounces back, sometimes even more than before. Such diets also hamper with your metabolism, in the long run, affecting your digestion and absorption.
Also Read: Japanese Mint Patches For Weight Loss; Do They Really Work?
The solution? Stick to a balanced diet that has foods from every food group. Just master the art of portion control.
Extreme Calorie Restriction
It's a common misconception that the lesser calories you eat, the faster your weight loss will be. Yes, you might lose weight initially but at the cost of your overall health. Extreme calorie restriction can lead to severe nutritional deficiencies and can also give rise to food disorders hampering your mental health as well. Stick to a simple, basic diet regime comprising of whole foods like grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and dairy.
(IANS)