Author/Editor     Alexander, Jan; Benford, Diane J; Boobis, Alan; Ceccatelli, Sandra; Cravedi, Jean-Pierre; Di Domenico, Alessandro; Doerge, Daniel; Dogliotti, Eugenia; Edler, Lutz; Filipič, Metka
Title     Scientific Opinion on marine biotoxins in shellfish - Palytoxin group: EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM)
Type     monografija
Place     Parma
Publisher     European Food Safety Authority
Publication year     2009
Volume     str. 38
Language     eng
Abstract     The EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) assessed the risks to human health related to the presence of palytoxin (PlTX)-group toxinsin shellfish. PlTX-group toxins have mainly been detected in soft coralsof the genus Palythoa and in algae of the genus Ostreopsis. Blooms of Ostreopsis spp. have recently been reported in some European countries. Occurrence of Ostreopsis spp. may result in contamination of shellfish intended for human consumption. Currently there are no regulations on PlTX-group toxins in shellfish, either in the European Union (EU), or in otherregions of the world. The toxicological database of PlTX-group toxins is limited, comprising only acute toxicity studies for PlTX and ostreocin-D via several routes of administration in various animal species. The oral route wasleast sensitive. Acute toxicity and deaths have been reported from human outbreaks, but there are no reliable quantitative data on acute toxicity in humans. In view of the acute toxicity and the lack of chronic toxicity data for PlTX-group toxins, the CONTAM Panel was only able to derive an oral acute reference dose (ARfD) of 0.2 gžkg b.w. for the sum of PlTX and its analogue ostreocin-D. In order for a 60 kg adult to avoid exceeding the ARfD a 400 g portion of shellfish meat should not contain more than 12 g of the sum of PlTX and ostreocin-D, corresponding to 30 gžkg shellfish meat. The mouse bioassay (MBA) has been used to detect PlTX-group toxins, but cell based assays have been developed as alternative. However, positive results require confirmation by chemical methods. High performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MSžMS) methods can be valuable tools for the determination, but method optimisation and validation as well asthe development of certified reference materials and standards are necessary.