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Table 3 Regulative limits of the maximum toxin levels of the four major seafood poisoning categorises that is allowed to be present in shellfish and the action limit of four genera in water samples within the UK

From: Toxic marine microalgae and shellfish poisoning in the British isles: history, review of epidemiology, and future implications

Regulative limits of maximum toxin level within the UK

Type of Shellfish Poisoning

Toxin

Maximum Level of Toxin

PSP

STX in bivalve molluscs

80 mg STX eg/100 g of meat [63]

DSP

OA, DTXs and PTXs in edible tissues (whole of any part edible separately) of molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates and marine gastropods

160 mg OA equivalents/kg [64]

 

YTX in edible tissues (whole of any part edible separately) of molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates and marine gastropods.

1 mg YTX equivalents/kg [64]

AZP

AZP toxins in bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates and marine gastropods (whole body or any part edible separately)

160 μg/kg [64]

ASP

DA toxin content in the edible parts of molluscs (the entire body or any part edible separately).

20 mg/kg [65]

Water Sampling, maximum species abundance in the UK

 

Species

Action Limit (cells/litre)

PSP

Alexandrium spp.

Present [62]

DSP

Dinophysis spp.

100 [62]

 

Prorocentrum spp.

100 [62]

ASP

Pseudo-nitzschia spp.

150,000 [62]