Tag: Saxitoxin

Over 180 cases of neurotoxic shellfish poisoning were reported in New Zealand between 1992 and 1993, underscoring the serious public health threat posed by contaminated seafood. These toxins are naturally occurring compounds produced by microscopic algae that can accumulate in mollusks, making them dangerous for human consumption.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), caused by saxitoxin, is one of the most common and severe forms of seafood-related food poisoning. This potent neurotoxin is produced by certain types of marine algae, which are then consumed by filter-feeding marine life, concentrating the toxin in their tissues. The primary concern for human health is the consumption of seafood contaminated with saxitoxin.

Over 50,000 people globally are affected by ciguatera poisoning annually, making it one of the most common seafood-related illnesses worldwide. A key part of seafood safety is understanding what are the names of the 5 toxins that are from seafood and shellfish, which often originate from harmful algal blooms.

According to research published on ScienceDirect, saxitoxin—the neurotoxin responsible for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP)—is one of the most potent natural neurotoxins known and can be lethal to humans at very low doses. While shellfish themselves are not inherently poisonous, this makes understanding what is the most toxic shellfish a critical matter of public health during harmful algal blooms.