Introduction
We have several HACCP hazard tables. Below you see the HACCP variation table which we have composed concerning the subject "Marine biotoxins". Since this table is very extensive, we recommend using the download below to view the table properly.
What are marine biotoxins?
Marine biotoxins are toxic compounds naturally produced by certain species of microalgae. These toxins can accumulate in filter-feeding marine organisms, such as bivalve molluscs (e.g., mussels, oysters, scallops, and clams). Ingestion of shellfish contaminated with marine biotoxins can lead to various human poisoning syndromes, presenting symptoms that may include gastrointestinal distress (diarrhoea, vomiting), neurological effects (paralysis, memory loss), and other severe health issues.
Phycotoxins and Biotoxins Hazards Table
| Name | Origin | Food Product | Lethal Dose (μg/kg) | Illness | Regulation* | Preventive Measures | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phycotoxins | |||||||
| Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) |
Diatoms: Pseudo-nitzschia spp. | Shellfish (mussels, scallops, clams, crabs). | Humans: 1-4 mg domoic acid/kg bw. LOAEL (memory loss): 0.9 mg/kg bw (EFSA 2009;7(12):1382) | GI symptoms (vomiting, diarrhoea, pain) within 24h; neurological (confusion, memory loss, seizures) within 48h. | ∙ Reg. (EC) No 853/2004: MLs shellfish flesh. ∙ Reg. (EU) 2019/627: Official controls. |
Monitoring of Pseudo-nitzschia & domoic acid in shellfish. Harvest area closures. | Water-soluble, heat-stable. Concern in Europe and globally; increasing incidence. |
| Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP; Saxitoxins) |
Dinoflagellates: Alexandrium, Gymnodinium, Pyrodinium spp. | Shellfish (mussels, scallops, clams, crabs). | Humans: Lethal oral dose: 1-4 mg total toxin (EFSA 2009;7(12):1306). | Muscle paralysis, respiratory failure, death. Onset: 30 min - 2h. Mortality: 1-20% without support. | ∙ Reg. (EC) No 853/2004: MLs shellfish flesh. ∙ Reg. (EU) 2019/627: Official controls. |
Monitoring of toxic algae & PSP toxins. Harvest area closures. | Water-soluble, heat-stable. Global issue, recurrent in Europe. Many analogues. |
| Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP; Okadaic Acid - OA & Dinophysistoxins - DTXs) |
Dinoflagellates: Dinophysis, Prorocentrum spp. | Shellfish (mussels, scallops, clams, crabs). | Humans: (LOAEL for OA): ~0.3 μg/kg bw (total dose ~20-50 μg) (EFSA 2008;6(1):589). | Severe diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain. Onset: 30 min - several hours. Not usually lethal. | ∙ Reg. (EC) No 853/2004: MLs for OA, DTXs & Pectenotoxins combined in shellfish flesh. ∙ Reg. (EU) 2019/627: Official controls. |
Monitoring of toxic algae & DSP toxins. Harvest area closures. | Lipophilic, heat-stable. Common in European shellfish farming. |
| Pectenotoxins (PTXs) | Dinoflagellates: Dinophysis spp. | Shellfish (mussels, scallops, clams, crabs). | Humans: Oral toxicity data limited. Primarily hepatotoxic in animal studies. Mice (i.p. LD50 PTX2): 250 μg/kg bw (EFSA 2009;7(7):1209) | Liver damage in animals. Human GI effects from PTXs alone not clearly established. | ∙ Reg. (EC) No 853/2004: Included in the MLs with OA & DTXs. ∙ Reg. (EU) 2019/627: Official controls. |
Monitoring as part of DSP complex. Harvest area closures. | Lipophilic. Concern in Europe. Contribution to human diarrhetic illness less than OA/DTXs, but regulated due to other potential toxicities. |
| Yessotoxins (YTXs) | Dinoflagellates: Protoceratium, Lingulodinium, Gonyaulax spp. | Shellfish (mussels, scallops, clams). | Humans: Acute oral toxicity low. Mice (i.p. LD50 YTX): 100-500 μg/kg bw; (oral LD50 YTX): >5000 μg/kg bw ( EFSA Journal 2009;7(3):1029) | Cardiotoxic in animals. No confirmed human illness from YTXs via shellfish at typical levels. | ∙ Reg. (EC) No 853/2004: MLs shellfish flesh. ∙ Reg. (EU) 2019/627: Official controls. |
Monitoring of YTXs. Harvest area closures. | Lipophilic. Found in European waters. Regulated due to potential cardiotoxicity seen in animals. |
| Azaspiracid Shellfish Poisoning (AZP; Azaspiracids) |
Dinoflagellates: Azadinium, Amphidoma spp | Shellfish (mussels, oysters, scallops, clams, crabs). | Humans (Estimated toxic dose AZA1): ~2.3 μg/kg bw (EFSA Journal 2008;6(9):771) | Severe GI symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cramps). Prolonged illness possible. Potential tumor promoter. | ∙ Reg. (EC) No 853/2004: MLs shellfish flesh. ∙ Reg. (EU) 2019/627: Official controls. |
Monitoring of toxic algae & AZAs. Harvest area closures | Lipophilic. Significant concern in Europe. Many analogues known. |
| Neurotoxic Shellfish Poisoning (NSP;Brevetoxins) |
Dinoflagellates: Karenia spp. (mainly K. brevis). | Shellfish (oysters, clams, mussels) | Humans: Intoxication reported at 2.8-4.8 μg BTX-2 eq./kg bw. (Search result 7.2). Mice (oral LD50 BTX-3): 520 μg/kg bw (EFSA CONTAM Panel, 2009) |
GI & neurological symptoms (tingling, dizziness, temperature reversal). Respiratory irritation from aerosols. Rarely fatal. Onset: minutes to hours. | No specific EU-wide limits. National measures may exist. General Food Law applies. Monitoring in some areas. | Monitoring of Karenia blooms & toxins. Harvest area closures. Avoid recreational harvest during blooms. | Lipophilic, heat-stable. Primarily Gulf of Mexico, NZ. Potential emerging concern in Europe due to Karenia presence. |
| Palytoxin (PlTX ; Group Toxins) |
Dinoflagellates: Ostreopsis spp.; Soft corals: Palythoa spp. | Shellfish (mussels, clams, sea urchins), crabs, fish exposed to blooms. | Humans (Oral ARfD by EFSA): 0.2 μg/kg bw for PlTX + ostreocin-D. Guidance: 30 μg/kg shellfish. | Shellfish (mussels, clams, sea urchins), crabs, fish exposed to blooms. | No specific EU-wide limits. National measures may exist. General Food Law applies. | Avoid seafood from areas with Ostreopsis blooms/Palythoa. Harvest area closures. Avoid aerosol contact during blooms. | Heat-stable. Ostreopsis blooms an emerging issue in some European areas (e.g., Mediterranean). |
| Cyclic Imines (CIs; Spirolides - SPXs) Gymnodimines (GYMs, Pinnatoxins - PnTXs, etc.) |
Dinoflagellates: Alexandrium, Karenia, Vulcanodinium spp. | Shellfish (bivalve molluscs). | Humans: No confirmed poisoning cases. Data limited. Mice (SPXs oral LD50: 50μg/kg bw. (PnTXs oral LD50 mix E/F): 23 μg/kg bw. | Neurotoxic in mice (fast-acting: paralysis, respiratory distress). Human symptoms unknown. | No specific EU-wide limits/ National measures may exist. General Food Law applies. | General shellfish monitoring principles. Research ongoing. | Lipophilic. Emerging toxins. Detected at low levels in European shellfish. Risk assessment ongoing. |
| Other Marine Biotoxins | |||||||
| Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP - Ciguatoxins - CTXs, Maitotoxins - MTXs) |
Dinoflagellates: Gambierdiscus, Fukuyoa spp. | Large predatory reef fish (barracuda, grouper, snapper, etc.) accumulating toxins via food chain. | CTXs (Humans): LOAEL ~0.001-0.0025 μg P-CTX-1/kg bw (EFSA 2010;8(6):1627). MTXs: Extremely potent by injection in mice (LD50 ~0.05 μg/kg bw). | GI, neurological (paresthesia, itching, cold allodynia), and cardiovascular symptoms. Rarely fatal. Onset: 1-24h. | No specific EU-wide limits for CTXs in fish. General Food Law applies. Some regional monitoring (e.g., Canaries, Madeira). | Avoid large predatory reef fish from endemic areas, especially viscera. Monitoring in affected areas. | Lipophilic, heat-stable. Primarily tropical/subtropical; emerging in Europe (Macaronesia). Imported fish also a risk. |
| Tetrodotoxin (TTX) | Marine bacteria (e.g., Vibrio, Pseudoalteromonas spp.). | Pufferfish (Tetraodontidae). Also some gastropods, bivalves, other marine animals. | Humans (MLD): 1-2 mg total dose. Serious effects at 0.2 mg (~4 μg/kg bw). | Potent neurotoxin: tingling (lips, tongue), paralysis, respiratory distress, cardiac arrhythmia. Can be fatal. Onset: minutes to hours. | ∙ Reg. (EC) No 853/2004: Fish: Marketing of Tetraodontidae prohibited. Shellfish: No specific EU limit EFSA (2017) proposed guidance: <44 μg TTX eq./kg. | Prohibition of pufferfish marketing. Monitoring of TTX in shellfish in at-risk areas. | Water-soluble, heat-stable. Concern in Asia; emerging in Europe in shellfish and via invasive fish (e.g., Lagocephalus sceleratus in Mediterranean). |
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