Reference Material Development for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Toxins and Associated Analytical Applications

• Main Author: Burrell, Stephen
• Other Authors: Dr. Andrew D. Turner, Dr. Barry Foley.
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: unknown
• Published: Technological University Dublin 2015
• Subjects: food poisoning; marine biotoxins; paralytic shellfish poisoning; mouse bioassay; Freeze drying; preserving additives; Analytical Chemistry; Other Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Iceland
• Online Access: https://arrow.tudublin.ie/sciendoc/169; https://doi.org/10.21427/D7MK5J; https://arrow.tudublin.ie/context/sciendoc/article/1170/viewcontent/Stephen_Burrell_PhD_Thesis.pdf

Food poisoning incidences relating to marine biotoxins are a global phenomenon and have the potential to severely impact the aquaculture industry. As a result, and as a legislative requirement in the European Union (EU), many countries have implemented monitoring programmes for these compounds but their success relies on the availability of certain quality assurance tools, two of which are reference materials (RMs) and proficiency testing. The limited amounts of RMs, in particular matrix certified reference materials (CRMs) for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins has been a limiting factor in the implementation of alternatives to the mouse bioassay for routine monitoring programmes. Various stabilisation procedures were investigated to ascertain the applicability of each for preparing RMs for various uses including internal QA/QC, proficiency testing and as candidates for certification. The beginning of these studies coincided with a large PSP toxic event in Icelandic waters. During that period mussels from two production sites on the north and north-west coasts of Iceland accumulated PSP toxins to levels many times over the EU regulatory limit. Mussels sampled during this period were characterised and presented along with phytoplankton data from the same period and presented as a first report of PSP toxins from Icelandic waters. Large quantities of naturally contaminated mussel tissues were harvested during this period for use in these studies. Various stabilisation procedures were investigated, such as thermal treatment, the use of preserving additives, high pressure processing (HPP) and freeze drying, for their applicability in preparing RMs for PSP toxins. Extensive characterisation of the materials was performed through homogeneity and short and long-term stability studies using two LC-FLD methods to evaluate each technique in reducing levels of degradation, biotransformations or epimerization. Freeze drying proved the most effective technique evaluated and this procedure was used to prepare RMs in ...