A Recent Shellfish Toxin Investigation in China

A shellfish toxin investigation along the Chinese coast has recently been conducted using both HPLC and mouse assay methods. The results showed that DSP was widely distributed in different shellfish species in China. 26 out of 89 samples had DTX1 (dinophysistoxin-1) or OA (okadaic acid) but the DSP content in most shellfish samples did not reach the regulatory limit for human consumption adopted in many countries (20 μg/100 g soft tissue). PSP was also found in 5 out of 96 samples along the coast. One sample, Chlamys nobilis from Hong Kong contained high levels of PSP (320 μg STX equivalent/100 g soft tissue), compared to the regulatory limit (80 μg STX equivalent/100 g soft tissue). After the recent outbreak of red tide in Hong Kong waters, three further shellfish samples were collected within 40 days to investigate the impacts of this event. It was shown that high levels of PSP continued to exist in Hong Kong waters. This report provides the first report of DSP and PSP distribution along the Chinese coast.