About PSP Safe
Our Focus
PSP Safe is a four-year DAFM (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine) funded project from 2021-2025. It is a multidisciplinary collaboration between the Marine Institute, the Atlantic Technological University of Galway, and the University College of Dublin. It addresses recent concerns about the increasing presence of the highly potent neurotoxins known as Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PSTs) in Irish shellfish, produced mainly by dinoflagellates of the genus Alexandrium.
Our Sampling Campaign
Focusing on the important aquaculture area of Castlemaine Harbour (Co. Kerry, Ireland), it aims to identify the causes, timing, environmental factors, and mechanistic pathways of PST occurrences. The project workflow includes the establishment of a comprehensive sampling program in the area, the development of novel molecular methods targeting toxin-producing strains, and the implementation of predictive models and risk assessment tools for the shellfish industry and providing food safety assurances to consumers.
PSP Toxins
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning is human illness caused by the ingestion of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PST's).
Toxin Origin
Paralytic Shellfish Toxins (PST's) are natural biotoxins produced by the phytoplankton species Alexandrium. These toxins include Saxitoxins and Gonyautotoxins and are produced when Alexandrium species form algal blooms in coastal waters and are then ingested by shellfish.
Toxin Ingestion
PST's are particularly harmful as not only to they cause significant adverse effects to humans but low amounts of the toxins are required to achieve this. Such effects include headaches, dizziness, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting leading onto muscular paralysis. It is also one of the few toxins to result in complete respiratory failure in severe cases.
Toxin Impacts
PST's are particularly harmful as not only to they cause significant adverse effects to humans but low amounts of the toxins are required to achieve this. Such effects include headaches, dizziness, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting leading onto muscular paralysis. It is also one of the few toxins to result in complete respiratory failure in severe cases.