How Safe Is Safe for Marine Toxins Monitoring?

Luis Botana,Ana Botana,Mercedes Vieytes,Amparo Alfonso,Maria Louzao,Ines Rodríguez

doi:10.3390/toxins8070208

Abstract

Current regulation for marine toxins requires a monitoring method based on mass spectrometric analysis. This method is pre-targeted, hence after searching for pre-assigned masses, it identifies those compounds that were pre-defined with available calibrants. Therefore, the scope for detecting novel toxins which are not included in the monitoring protocol are very limited. In addition to this, there is a poor comprehension of the toxicity of some marine toxin groups. Also, the validity of the current approach is questioned by the lack of sufficient calibrants, and by the insufficient coverage by current legislation of the toxins reported to be present in shellfish. As an example, tetrodotoxin, palytoxin analogs, or cyclic imines are mentioned as indicators of gaps in the system that require a solid comprehension to assure consumers are protected.

Highlights

Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Academic Editor: Jose M
The regulatory situation in Europe has been under critical scrutiny with regard to some contaminants such as endocrine disrupters [3], where toxicity was presumed in the absence of specific data demonstrating non toxicity
The work by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) working group has evidenced that even legally regulated, there is a lack of demonstrated toxic effect in humans by pectenotoxins [5] or yessotoxins [6]

Summary

Monitoring of Toxins

The current monitoring method for marine toxins is based on an analysis with liquid chromatography separation coupled to a mass spectrometric detection [1] using interlaboratory validated methods [2]. A similar situation is being criticized with regard to marine toxins, with not such a relevant coordination by several journal editors. Very toxic to humans [9] were reported to be present in shellfish [10]. With regard to marine toxins, it can be stated that some toxins are included in the legislation unless they are proven to be non toxic. This is the case as some of them are regulated while being non toxic (i.e., pectenotoxin), and others are not regulated even though they are very toxic (i.e., tetrodotoxin, palytoxin)

Analysis and Toxicity

Toxicityaspect

Toxicity Itself