Tilapia is likely to be the most important of all aquaculture fish in 21st century, often called "Aquatic Chicken". 17α-methyl testosterone (MT) is widely used for sex reversal of of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in the early development state. There is huge rumor that hormone treated fishes are not safe for consumer... or safe?
I hope this link will help you
https://businessmirror.com.ph/are-sex-reversed-tilapia-safe-to-eat/
regards
Hormone-treated tilapias are being farmed for decades now and as I know nothing against safety has come to light.
Thank you Honorable Prof. Dr. MN Kutty for the valuable answer.
Hormones treated on tilapia fish, will disappear before the fish are harvested
if we look at half life of hormone or antibiotic
we can see that they will disappear as soon as possible.
The concern with testosterone use for sex reversal would be more applicable to exposure of the hatchery workers; especially when used in more rural settings where protocols may not be very rigid.
Thanks Prof. Neil Stallard for different highly appreciable answer which is much distinguishable from the previous scholar answer.
Could you please write in few words what happen to those workers if they continuously exposed by testosterone?
Dear Muhammad
Firstly I am no where near being a professor, thank you for the complement. I am an active fish farmer and have come across the concern of hatchery worker exposure from time to time. In the literature there have been attempts to link testosterone levels to the incidence of prostrate cancer but they are not conclusive as many other factors are involved. There other areas of concern that have been investigated like the effects of exposure on fetal development; I have not read up in this field so I am ill-equipped to comment. It does appear that human skin is less permeable to testosterone than the skin of other vertebrates, but with the testosterone usually in a powdered form I would be cautious of inhalation as absorption across the respiratory tract would probably be better than skin.
I am not able to help any further and rather suggest that people handling this hormone do so with care. Alternatively invest in the development of super males which will genetically give male offspring.
Respected Neil Stallard, thank you so much for the cordial response. I'm very glad to call you Professor although you have no such position, however your talented answer and interaction indicating you deserve a higher position than a Professor.
Thanks for the explanations and all the very best sir.
very interesting question :
1. With special stress on people who are consuming table size tilapia (sex reversed at fry stage) fish regularly; To date, no patient reported (WHO) in any country suffering from particular hormone disturbance,.
2. Fish treated with sex reversal hormone during fry stage and we are consuming it after four months of hormone application.
3. It's all irrelevant to ban sex reversed tilapia. This technology is almost 32-35 years old practice.
4. It is more dangerous for fry fish feeder and technician if they are handling it in improper manner.
5. Off course! Judicious application of any hormone is mandatory. (Under controlled supervision of Bio-security authority/scientific governance body/regulatory body/Occupational health and safety department is desirable.
It is boon for fish farmers not ban
Dear Professor Alok Kalla, thank you so much for excellent, appreciated answer and enriching my knowledge on that issue.
Best wishes sir.
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