exposure of human to algal toxins is a serious public health concern. These toxins can reach human via many source like consumption of fish and/or shellfish. Paralytic shellfish poisoning, diarrheic shellfish poisoning, amnesic shellfish poisoning, and neurotoxic shellfish poisoning are associated with marine fish toxins.
Dear Dr. Suleiman,
First of all, it is important to know the type of the algal toxins. Because specific toxin has specific mode of action. Although algal toxins are indicted in ciguatera effects, potency differs.
Regards!
T. S. Imam
In Europe the maximum permitted biotoxin concentrations in shellfish are;
PSP: 800 micrograms/ kilogram
ASP: 20 milligrams of domoic acid/kilogram
Lipophilic toxins (tested by LC-MS):
i. OA/DTXs/PTXs: 160 micrograms of Okadaic acid equivalents/kilogram
ii. YTXs: 3.75 milligram of yessotoxin equivalent/kilogram
iii. AZAs: 160 micrograms of azaspiracid equivalents/kilogram
DSP (for species not tested by LC-MS): DSP toxins must not be present
Hi.
Saxitoxin is one of the “paralyticshellfish poisons” (PSP), produced by several marine dinoflagellates and
cyanobacteria (fresh water algae). Contamination ofshellfish with saxitoxinhas been associated with
harmful algal blooms throughout the world.
In man, PSP causes dose-dependent perioral numbness or tingling sensations and progressive muscular
paralysis, which can result in death through respiratory arrest. The maximum tolerance levels established
by the EU and FDA are 40-80 µg per 100 g edible portion of fresh, frozen, or tinned shellfish.
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