Dietary exposure assessment of paralytic shellfish toxins through shellfish consumption in Shenzhen population, China.

Yan Zhou,Qionghui Zhao,Ke Huang,Jinzhou Zhang,Shenpan Li,Jianjun Liu,Liubo Pan,Xiao Chen,Zhou Wang,Tianjiu Jiang,Jianying Zhang,Baiqiang Huang

doi:10.1007/s11356-021-16249-4

Abstract

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) produced by certain marine dinoflagellates accumulate in filter-feeding marine bivalves. We used LC-MS/MS to detect and quantify 13 PSTs in 188 shellfish samples of 14 species collected from Shenzhen city's Buji seafood wholesale market from March 2019 to February 2020. Twenty-six of 188 shellfish samples (13.8%) were PSTs detectable. Within 14 species, 10 out of 34 noble clam Chlamys nobilis samples contain detectable PSTs with the highest detection rate 29.4%. Seven out of 17 samples from Nan'ao island contained detectable PSTs with the highest detection rate 41.2% among 11 origins. Samples containing PSTs were concentrated in spring and winter, with the highest levels in March>December>January. Among PSTs detected, C1 was dominant. Acute dietary exposure assessment for Shenzhen residents were based on mean adult body weight, 99th percentile daily shellfish consumption of Shenzhen food consumption survey 2008 and maximum PSTs concentration for each shellfish species. The outcome for Chlamys nobilis was 2.4~3.7-fold higher than recommended ARfDs. Mean PSTs concentration, P99, and mean shellfish consumption were used to assess chronic dietary exposure. The results were lower than recommended ARfDs. In conclusion, residents in Shenzhen are at risk for acute PSTs poisoning, while relatively safe from chronic PSTs exposure.

Highlights

The escalating incidence of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is associated with increasing harmful algal blooms linked to global ocean warming and anthropogenic activity that promotes eutrophication (Visciano et al, 2016)
Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) were not detected in samples of 7 shellfish species
Samples distributed in spring and winter were positive for PSTs: the highest detected rate was in March (5/15, 33.3%), followed by December (5/16, 34.3%) and January (5/16, 31.3%)

Summary

Introduction

The escalating incidence of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) is associated with increasing harmful algal blooms linked to global ocean warming and anthropogenic activity that promotes eutrophication (Visciano et al, 2016). Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) are mainly produced by marine dinoflagellates, such as Alexandrium, Gymnodinium, and Gonuaulax spp, and accumulated in filter-feeding bivalves (Liu et al, 2004; Asakawa et al.,2006; Shin et al, 2018). PST intoxication results from ingestion of seafood containing potent algal toxins, the parent molecule of which is saxitoxin (STX), which acts by blocking sodium channels in excitable membranes of cells, notably neurons (Pellegrino et al, 1984). Symptoms usually begin 2~12 hours after ingestion of the contaminated products, with gradual resolution over 24 hours (FAO/IOC/WHO, 2004). Severe poisoning results in muscle paralysis, dyspnea, and death from respiratory paralysis (FAO/IOC/WHO, 2004), with symptom onset 2-12 hours after consumption of contaminated shellfish. An antidote for PST intoxication has yet to be found

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Conclusion