Published 2021 | Version v1
Journal article

Guidance Level for Brevetoxins in French Shellfish

Others:
Direction de l'Evaluation des Risques (DER) ; Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail (ANSES)
MARine Biodiversity Exploitation and Conservation (UMR MARBEC) ; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD)-Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER)-Université de Montpellier (UM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER)
Ecology and Conservation Science for Sustainable Seas (ECOSEAS) ; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)
Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Micro-organismes (MCAM) ; Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Centre antipoison et de toxicovigilance (Toulouse) (CAPTV Toulouse) ; CHU Toulouse [Toulouse]-CHU Purpan
Laboratoire de sécurité des aliments de Maisons-Alfort (LSAl) ; Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l'alimentation, de l'environnement et du travail (ANSES)
Physiopathologie Cardiovasculaire et Mitochondriale (MITOVASC) ; Université d'Angers (UA)-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)
Service d'Ingénierie Moléculaire pour la Santé (ex SIMOPRO) (SIMoS) ; Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (MTS) ; Université Paris-Saclay-Direction de Recherche Fondamentale (CEA) (DRF (CEA)) ; Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (INRAE)-Université Paris-Saclay-Direction de Recherche Fondamentale (CEA) (DRF (CEA)) ; Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (INRAE)
Laboratoire sur les interactions Epithéliums Neurones (LIEN) ; Université de Brest (UBO)

Description

Brevetoxins (BTXs) are marine biotoxins responsible for neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP) after ingestion of contaminated shellfish. NSP is characterized by neurological, gastrointestinal and/or cardiovascular symptoms. The main known producer of BTXs is the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis, but other microalgae are also suspected to synthesize BTX-like compounds. BTXs are currently not regulated in France and in Europe. In November 2018, they have been detected for the first time in France in mussels from a lagoon in the Corsica Island (Mediterranean Sea), as part of the network for monitoring the emergence of marine biotoxins in shellfish. To prevent health risks associated with the consumption of shellfish contaminated with BTXs in France, a working group was set up by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses). One of the aims of this working group was to propose a guidance level for the presence of BTXs in shellfish. Toxicological data were too limited to derive an acute oral reference dose (ARfD). Based on human case reports, we identified two lowest-observed-adverse-effect levels (LOAELs). A guidance level of 180 µg BTX-3 eq./kg shellfish meat is proposed, considering a protective default portion size of 400 g shellfish meat.

Abstract

To prevent health risks associated with the consumption of shellfish contaminated with BTXs in France, a working group was set up by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses). One of the aims of this working group was to propose a guidance level for the presence of BTXs in shellfish.

Abstract

International audience

Additional details

Created:
December 4, 2022
Modified:
November 29, 2023