What are the toxins found in shellfish?
Molluscan shellfish feed by filtering the water and consuming the many species of phytoplankton that happen to be in the environment. The quantity and species that are present depends upon environmental conditions such as temperature, sunlight, salinity etc. Not all algal blooms are toxic but they are commonplace and a natural phenomenon so human intervention has little or no effect on their presence. Some toxins accumulated by shellfish are particularly poisonous and can cause serious illness in humans. Worldwide there are four recognised groups of illnesses associated with Algal Toxins: Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) is caused by the algae Alexandrium, Gymnodium and Pyrodinium. The Illness causes numbness to the mouth and fingertips, impaired muscle coordination and respiratory distress. Paralysis can occur and extreme cases this may be fatal. Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) is caused by the algae Dinophysis and Prorocentrum. This is a gastrointestinal disease and causes cl
