Toxic coral in home aquarium blamed for making Gatineau family sick

Seven members of a family are recovering from illness they say was caused by exposure to a toxic coral in their home aquarium.

Jason Laframboise, 31, bought the aquarium second-hand from a business where it had been on display and transported it with its contents to his home in Gatineau, Que.,on Sunday.

Immediately after transferring some Australian Zoanthid corals, all seven people in the house began to feel sick.

"We all started sneezing within minutes. We were having chest pains, problems breathing," Laframboise said. "So after about three to four minutes of symptoms we came out. We called poison control. And later in hospital [we had]fevers, shaking, a bit of vomiting."

Those who fell ill included Laframboise's16-month-old nephew, his five-year-old son and three-year-old daughter, as well ashis wife, Cassandra Findlay, who is six months pregnant.

Upon learning of the family's symptoms, the Quebec Poison Control Centre sent them an email to present to a triage nurse at the Montfort Hospital where they sought treatment. It warned that Zoanthid coral could contain a substance called palytoxin, which when ingestedcould cause symptoms from vomiting and seizures to respiratory failure resulting in death.

Laframboisebelieves the family was poisoned by breathing the toxinthrough the air, which the poison control centre suggested would likely lead to milder symptoms.

Laframboise stayed overnight in hospital and was given IV fluids and antibiotics. His wife returned to the hospital on Tuesday for further examination.

Family experienced severe symptoms after moving coral

8 years ago

Duration 0:35

Jason Laframboise says he and six other family members began suffering severe symptoms after he transferred coral into his new aquarium.

Family afraid to return home

While the family members worryabout theirhealth, including that of theirunborn child,they're living without their belongings at the home of a family member.

They're afraid to return home for fear the buildingis still contaminated with the toxin.

Initially,they were not offered help fromauthorities to clean up the property or even inspect the house where theynormally operate a home daycare.

"I've called over 40 companies and nobody can do it in this region," said Laframboise.

The family was also informed that a hazardous materials team would not be called to respond, although police have cordoned off the house with orange tape.

Late Tuesday evening, Laframboisemet with Gatineau's fire chief and police chief,who have agreed to help him with the cleanupso the family can return home.

Laframboisesaid he has been told multiple provincial government departments are going to be involved.

Toxic coral a common feature of aquariums

The man who sold Laframboise the aquarium, Alex Bordeu, told CBCNewsit was purchased at Marinescape, a saltwater aquarium retailer on Carling Avenue in Ottawa. He said that as the person in charge of maintaining the aquarium during its four years on display in his own office,he'd handled its contents safely many times.

Live coral is a very popular feature of saltwater aquariums, according to Marinescapeco-owner Keith Hamilton.

"There are very few of them that wouldn't have Zoanthids in them, because of their variety and colour," he said.

Hamilton said the recommended protocol for dealing with the coral involves wearing gloves and glasses, although he's frequently handled the creatures without using those precautions himself.

A Toronto coral grower advisedcaution, calling Zoanthid coral "one of the most toxic things in the aquarium industry" because scrubbing or hot water can cause the coral to release toxins that become airborne.

"I've heard of this happening once in a blue moon. Someone cleans or scrubs a tank and then ends up inhaling some of it," said Marcello Portillo, who runs Fragbox Corals.

Portillosaid he's never heard of anyone becoming seriously ill, and he's never had a problem himself despite working with the corals for many hours each day.

A spokesperson for Health Canada told CBC it had no reported incidents of poisoning by Zoanthid corals and that the government doesnot restrict their sale or handling.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which requires import permits for some aquatic animals susceptible to certain diseases, told CBCNewsit does not require permitsfor any coral species.

As for Laframboise, he said he was unaware of the risk despite his experience as an aquarium hobbyist, and he's anxious to spare others the hardship he's enduring.

"If people buy them, they should buy them with care, or be properly informed."