Toxicity of zoos and palys

6 man reef · 12/18/2007, 04:47 PM

Wasnt sure where to post this
Lasr Friday I was scraping off some hitchhiked zoo or paly's not sure. I kept gloved hands and wore glasses but no mask and the odor was very strong.
I wound up having extreme difficulty breathing and have pneumonia like symptoms the following day that did not go away. I was in bed with fever and chills for two days. It is flu season here in the northeast but I have not had one put me down like this one did.
Coincidences or could it have contributed?
I went to my doctor Monday morning and did not mention the zoo thing to her.

dsn112 · 12/18/2007, 05:01 PM

I would say coincedence. The articles that I have read say that the toxins would enter via open wound.. not become airborne

6 man reef · 12/18/2007, 05:02 PM

Thanks for your help dsn112

scrmbld33 · 12/18/2007, 05:03 PM

i would mention it to her, i remember a thread on here a while ago, its very serious and i would call the dr asap and get a opinion,

NirvanaFan · 12/18/2007, 06:31 PM

I'd mention it to her. The palytoxin in zoas aren't something you want to mess with.

Blown 346 · 12/18/2007, 07:30 PM

I agree, they arent something to take lighty. There was a guy who's dog drank out of a bucket that had zoos in it, the dog died from them. Even though they are very small compared to us, they pack a punch. Everyone handles the reactions differently while some never have a reaction to them.

adtravels · 12/19/2007, 08:08 AM

I wear goggles or safety glasses as I have been squirted in the eye when handling zoos

sjfishguy · 12/19/2007, 07:59 PM

Coincidence. You would probably not get those symptoms from palyoxin poisoning. Also, the threat from palytoxin is vastly overstated on these boards. I am not saying it isnt real, I do wear gloves when fragging zoos, but many people on here make a bigger deal about it than need be though.

Chibils · 12/19/2007, 08:03 PM

It is the most poisonous known organic toxin according to the sticky in the zoa forums. That said, I've never known anyone to die to it or get more than an obnoxious rash. I agree with Rich that it is vastly overstated, but not something I would mess with personally. Gloves and goggles.

greenbean36191 · 12/20/2007, 08:17 AM

Agreed on this being a coincidence and that the risk is overstated. You can't just breathe the toxin in unless you turn it into a mist first. It's a huge molecule (so it's not volatile) and you have to either get it in an open wound or on a mucous membrane to be harmed by it.

12/18/2007, 04:47 PM	#1
6 man reef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Jersey Posts: 140	Toxicity of zoos and palys Wasnt sure where to post this Lasr Friday I was scraping off some hitchhiked zoo or paly's not sure. I kept gloved hands and wore glasses but no mask and the odor was very strong. I wound up having extreme difficulty breathing and have pneumonia like symptoms the following day that did not go away. I was in bed with fever and chills for two days. It is flu season here in the northeast but I have not had one put me down like this one did. Coincidences or could it have contributed? I went to my doctor Monday morning and did not mention the zoo thing to her.

12/18/2007, 05:01 PM	#2
dsn112 Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,139	I would say coincedence. The articles that I have read say that the toxins would enter via open wound.. not become airborne __________________ I'm disturbed! I'm depressed! I'm inadequate! I got it all!! Current Tank Info: Fluval Edge w LED freshwater. Looking at doing a 20-40g long penninsula fowlr soon

12/18/2007, 05:03 PM	#4
scrmbld33 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: south jersey 08050 Posts: 2,394	i would mention it to her, i remember a thread on here a while ago, its very serious and i would call the dr asap and get a opinion, __________________ a left over shrimp shedding is not "a sicilian message meaning luca brasi sleeps with the fishes" fish are friends, not food Current Tank Info: 90gal salt, 2 250mh 14k hamiltons 2 110 actinic, 127lbs LR,50lbs tonga 70lbs indonesia 7lbs tonga branch asm g3

12/19/2007, 08:08 AM	#7
adtravels you cant buy blue fingers Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,542	I wear goggles or safety glasses as I have been squirted in the eye when handling zoos __________________ False facts are highly injurious to the progress of science, for they often endure long; but false views supported by some evidence, do little harm, for every one takes a salutary pleasure in proving their falseness. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon 36x24x24 reef

12/19/2007, 07:59 PM	#8
sjfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Delray Beach, FL Posts: 2,212	Coincidence. You would probably not get those symptoms from palyoxin poisoning. Also, the threat from palytoxin is vastly overstated on these boards. I am not saying it isnt real, I do wear gloves when fragging zoos, but many people on here make a bigger deal about it than need be though. __________________ Rich nanoTOTM May '08 29 years saltwater, 19 years reefs Current Tank Info: 65 mixed reef

12/18/2007, 05:02 PM	#3
6 man reef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Jersey Posts: 140	Thanks for your help dsn112

12/18/2007, 06:31 PM	#5
NirvanaFan Reef Ninja Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 4,280	I'd mention it to her. The palytoxin in zoas aren't something you want to mess with.

12/18/2007, 07:30 PM	#6
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	I agree, they arent something to take lighty. There was a guy who's dog drank out of a bucket that had zoos in it, the dog died from them. Even though they are very small compared to us, they pack a punch. Everyone handles the reactions differently while some never have a reaction to them.

12/19/2007, 08:03 PM	#9
Chibils halide loyalist Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sugar Hill, GA Posts: 2,213	It is the most poisonous known organic toxin according to the sticky in the zoa forums. That said, I've never known anyone to die to it or get more than an obnoxious rash. I agree with Rich that it is vastly overstated, but not something I would mess with personally. Gloves and goggles. __________________ always learning Current Tank Info: 75G new world cichlid, 25G reef in planning

12/20/2007, 08:17 AM	#10
greenbean36191 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ft. Lauderdale Posts: 10,598	Agreed on this being a coincidence and that the risk is overstated. You can't just breathe the toxin in unless you turn it into a mist first. It's a huge molecule (so it's not volatile) and you have to either get it in an open wound or on a mucous membrane to be harmed by it. __________________ Some say the sun rises in the East. Some say it rises in the West. The truth must be somewhere in the middle. Current Tank Info: tore them down to move and haven't had the time or money to set them back up