Exposure to domoic acid through shellfish consumption in Belgium

• Published in: Environment international Vol. 49; pp. 115 - 119
• Main Authors: Andjelkovic, M., Vandevijvere, S., Van Klaveren, J., Van Oyen, H., Van Loco, J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 15.11.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Belgium; Biological and medical sciences; Consumption; Domoic acid; Environment. Living conditions; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental pollutants toxicology; epidemiology; Exposure; Exposure assessment; Food toxicology; Human; Humans; Intoxication; Kainic Acid - analogs & derivatives; Kainic Acid - analysis; Marine toxins; Medical sciences; Mollusca; Mussels; Plant poisons toxicology; poisoning toxins; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; risk; Scallops; Seawater - chemistry; Shellfish; Shellfish - statistics & numerical data; Shellfish consumption; Shellfish Poisoning - epidemiology; tissue; Toxicology; Toxins; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Belgium; Europe; ANE, Belgium; Marine toxins; Shellfish; Shellfish consumption; NBFCS; TDI; SPE; DA; Domoic acid; ASP; HPLC; Exposure assessment; Consumption; Exposure; Phycotoxin; Marine environment; Toxin; Health and environment; Biological contamination; Public health; Food
• ISSN: 0160-4120; 1873-6750
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2012.08.007

A main known culprit causing amnesic shellfish poisoning in humans is domoic acid (DA). The toxin appearance in sea waters (by counting the toxin producing algae) and consequently in shellfish is closely monitored to prevent acute intoxications with gastrointestinal symptoms and neurological signs. However it is assumed that there might be some chronic problems with repetitive exposures to the toxin in animals. In humans this is greatly unknown and it is mostly assessed by relating reported toxin episodes and representative consumption data. Although in Belgium no alarming outbreaks have been reported in recent years, different concentrations of DA have been found in shellfish samples. In this study the human acute and chronic exposure to DA through shellfish consumption was evaluated by linking the data of DA concentrations in samples collected in the scope of the National Food control program in the period 2004–2009 and consumption data obtained from the National Belgian Food Consumption Survey including 3245 adults. The found level of toxin was highest in scallops while lowest in mussels. The mean usual long-term intake of molluscs such as scallops, mussels and oysters for the whole Belgian population was from 0.10g/day for scallops to 1.21g/day for mussels. With average portion size estimated to be 56–108g/day depending on the shellfish source it was calculated that less than 1% of the population would be at risk of acute intoxication. Using a medium bound approach, 5–6% of the population shows chronic exposure exceeding the tolerable daily intake of 0.075μg/kgbw per day with scallops being the most probable toxin vector when using lower (68.5%) and medium (45.6%) bound concentrations. ► Scallops in Belgium are shellfish with the highest level of the domoic acid. ► Belgians consume shellfish on average 0.1g (scallops) to 1.2g (mussel) daily. ► Less than 1% of Belgians would be at risk of intoxication with domoic acid. ► Probabilistic calculation estimates 5–6% of Belgians to exceed TDI for domoic acid.