Risk Assessment of Azaspiracids (AZAs) in Shellfish

Thursday, 10 August 2006

Certain marine biotoxins pose a serious health risk when present above maximum permitted limits in bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates or marine gastropods and therefore legislation has required the establishment of national marine biotoxin monitoring programmes.

Azaspiracids (AZAs) are a class of marine biotoxins that have emerged in the past ten years and have caused food poisoning.

There  is  a  clear  need  for  further  research  into  the  toxicology  of  AZAs  and thorough  detailed  epidemiological  investigation  of  any  suspected  incidents  of  AZP  in  the  Risk Assessment of Azaspiracids (AZAs) in Shellfish: A report of the Scientific Committee of the FSAI August 2006 future.

Mechanisms of action need to be elucidated and preliminary  work on long term low dose  toxicological  effects  needs  to  be  developed  and  supported  with  statistically  significant animal studies.