Occurrence of Cyclic Imines in European Commercial Seafood and Consumers Risk Assessment

Cyclic imines (CIs) are lipophilic marine toxins that bioaccumulate in seafood. Their structure comprises a cyclic-imine moiety, responsible for acute neurotoxicity in mice. CIs have not been linked yet to human poisoning and... [ view full abstract ]

Cyclic imines (CIs) are lipophilic marine toxins that bioaccumulate in seafood. Their structure comprises a cyclic-imine moiety, responsible for acute neurotoxicity in mice. CIs have not been linked yet to human poisoning and are not regulated in the European Union (EU). The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) requires more data in order to perform a conclusive risk assessment for consumers.

Commercial shellfish samples (n=96) from eight European countries (Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Netherlands and Denmark) were analysed for CIs. All samples were collected in the framework of the ECsafeSEAFOOD project. Both raw and processed samples were analysed on a LC-3200QTRAP and LC-HRMS QExactive mass spectrometer to assess CIs concentrations in the commercial samples.

In shellfish, two CIs, pinnatoxin G (PnTX-G) and 13-desmethylspirolide C (SPX-1) were found at low concentrations (0.1 to 12 µg/kg PnTX-G and 26 to 66 µg/kg SPX-1) while gymnomidines were not detected in any of the commercial samples (raw and processed samples). SPX-1 (n: 47) and PnTX-G (n: 96) were detected in 9.4% and 4.2% of the samples, respectively, at concentrations higher than the LOQ, and in 7.3% and 30% of the samples at concentrations lower than the LOQ (25µg/kg for SPX-1 and 3µg/kg for PnTX-G), respectively.

Following a risk assessment study performed with the average daily intake considered by ESFA based on a triangular distribution for shellfish consumption, it is concluded that it is unlikely that a health risk exists for European consumers due to the exposure to SPXs and PnTXs through shellfish consumption.