Shellfish contamination with marine biotoxins in Portugal and spring tides: a dangerous health coincidence
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REVIEW ARTICLE
Shellfish contamination with marine biotoxins in Portugal and spring tides: a dangerous health coincidence Paulo Vale 1 Received: 27 December 2019 / Accepted: 3 August 2020 # Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Bivalve molluscs can acquire marine biotoxins by filter-feeding upon certain toxin-producing microalgae. The two most common syndromes observed in temperate coastal waters have been diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) and paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). While DSP is a non-fatal gastrointestinal syndrome, PSP is a neurological syndrome which can lead to death by respiratory paralysis in high intoxication scenarios. In Portugal, the presence of both DSP and PSP toxins leads to recurrent seasonal bans of bivalve harvesting. On a few occasions, the bans were not placed in time, not properly disseminated to the public or were disregarded by recreational harvesters. Several cases of poisonings have been studied in collaboration between health authorities and the laboratory in charge of the biotoxin monitoring programme. Some of the outbreaks have even called the attention of the local media. In several of these recorded cases, a common trait has emerged throughout the years: bivalve harvest had often been done during very low tides attributed to either new or full moons. These tides expose intertidal bivalves more widely, increase harvesting time, and allow picking of larger-sized specimens. In some occasions, the consumers were extremely unfortunate because a noxious coincidence had occurred: larger-sized specimens were available but had attained the highest toxin content of the toxic season. This review alerts that despite costly monitoring programmes have been perfected through the years, human poisonings still take place due to the rapid increase in toxin levels and/or disrespect of harvest bans. Keywords Bivalve shellfish . Tidal cycles . Portugal . Foodborne outbreaks . Paralytic shellfish poisoning . Diarrhetic shellfish poisoning . Monitoring programmes
Introduction Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are responsible for contaminating seafood resources with marine biotoxins. Bivalve molluscan shellfish used for human consumption can acquire directly and rapidly these phycotoxins by filter-feeding upon certain planktonic toxin-producing microalgae. In temperate zones of the planet, the two most common biotoxin groups and human Responsible Editor: Vitor Manuel Oliveira Vasconcelos Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10389-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. * Paulo Vale [email protected] 1
National Reference Laboratory for Marine Biotoxins, Sea and Marine Resources Department, The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA, IP), R. Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho, 6, 1495-165 Algés, Portugal
outbreaks reported so far have been attributed to diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) and paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins (Table 1) (FAO 2004). DSP is a n
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