ISSN ONLINE: 2558-815X
ISSN PRINT: 1584-9244
ISSN-L: 1584-9244

Recreational angler exposure to domoic acid via consumption of contaminated shellfish from the Black Sea, Bulgaria: A preliminary study

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ABSTRACT
Introduction. Domoic acid (DA) is a neurotoxin that causes amnesic shellfish poisoning with gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, diarrhoea or abdominal cramps) and/or neurological symptoms (confusion, loss of memory, or other serious signs such as seizure or coma). Shellfish are recognized vectors of DA to humans. However, the exposure of anglers in Bulgaria through consumption of DA-contaminated shellfish is unknown. The aim of this study was to measure DA in shellfish species Mytilus galloprovincialis targeted by anglers in North Black Sea, Bulgaria and to assess anglers exposure regarding their shellfish consumption patterns.
Materials and methods. The research is conducted in the period September 2016 – May 2017. DA was confirmed via a method for the simultaneous identification and quantification by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). An intercepted survey, a type of face-to-face interview, was conducted to determine whether recreational anglers were at risk of exposure to DA toxins as a result of their consumption of harvested shellfish.
Results. Mean DA concentration is 0,707 μg DA/g hepatopancreas which is much less than the current EU limit of 20 mg DA/kg shellfish meat. Estimated acute dietary exposure of 1.417 μg DA/ kg bw does not exceed the acute reference dose of 30 μg DA/ kg bw
Conclusion. The present study showed that anglers cannot be exposed to symptomatic DA doses through consumption of their catch.
Key words: domoic acid, shellfish consumption, recreational anglers, exposure assessment.

Zlatina VESELINOVA PETEVA
Marin Drinov 55, 9002 Varna, Bulgaria
e-mail: zlatina_peteva@mail.bg

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