BIOACCUMULATION AND BIOMAGNIFICATION - Marine Pollution: What Everyone Needs to Know - page 158

While no cases of DSP have been reported along the West
Coast of the United States, Dinophysis is commonly found in
British Columbia and Puget Sound in Washington State. As no
life-threatening symptoms occur, no fatalities from DSP have
been recorded.
What is neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP)?
Neurotoxic shellfish poisoning (NSP) is caused by consump-
tion of shellfish contaminated with brevetoxins primarily
produced by the dinoflagellate Karenia brevis. Blooms of K. bre-
vis , called Florida red tide, occur frequently along the Gulf of
Mexico. Symptoms of NSP include gastrointestinal and neuro-
logical symptoms: nausea and vomiting; paresthesias (tingling
sensation) of the mouth, lips, and tongue; and distal paresthe-
sias, ataxia, slurred speech, and dizziness. Neurotoxic shell-
fish poisoning causes a mild gastroenteritis with neurologic
symptoms comparable to paralytic shellfish poisoning. With
the inhalation of aerosolized toxins, especially brevetoxins
from sea spray exposure, respiratory irritation and other health
effects occur in humans and other mammals. Neurological
symptoms can progress to partial paralysis. Shellfish beds in
Florida are routinely monitored for the presence of K. brevis
and other brevetoxin-producing organisms. As a result, few
NSP cases are reported from the United States. However, an
alarmingly large number (several hundreds) of endangered
Florida manatees were apparently killed by the toxins in 2013.
What is amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP)?
Amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) is caused by domoic
acid, which is produced by marine diatoms in the genus
Pseudo-nitzschia, the first example of a toxin-producing diatom.
When shellfish accumulate domoic acid in high concentrations
during filter feeding, the toxin can be passed on to humans
that eat them. Both shellfish and finfish can accumulate this