• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.404-410
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• 2021

Although, mouse bioassay for the monitoring of azaspiracids (AZAs) toxins in shellfish has been used previously, the reported method has low sensitivity and it is time-consuming. Recently, there is an interest in the quantitative analysis of AZAs using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The purpose of this study is to verify the simultaneous analysis of AZAs in shellfish and tunicate in Korea using LC-MS/MS. To validate the method, linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), precision, accuracy, and repeatability were determined. All standard compounds were analyzed within 7 min. The correlation coefficients (R²) of the standard solution was higher than 0.9995 (within the range of 0.8-10.0 ㎍/L). The LODs and LOQs of AZAs in shellfish were 0.08-0.16 ㎍/kg and 0.23-0.50 ㎍/kg, respectively. The accuracy and precision of the method for determining AZAs in shellfish were 87.1-93.0% and 1.23-4.91%, respectively. Consequently, the verified LC-MS/MS method is suitable to analyze AZAs in shellfish and tunicates in Korea.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.456-462
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• 2024

Azaspiracids (AZAs) are a group of shellfish toxins that cause azaspiracid shellfish poisoning (AZP). They have been detected in mussels (Mytilus edulis) and oysters (Crassostrea gigas) in the Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom. In this study, we aimed to develop a method for the simultaneous detection of AZAs using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Simultaneous analyses of AZA-1, AZA-2, AZA-3, AZA-4, and AZA-5 were conducted according to AOAC ISO 17025 guidelines. Between 2020 and 2023, 467 imported shellfish were purchased from retail and wholesale markets in Korea. However, none of the samples tested positive for AZA-1, AZA-3, AZA-4, or AZA-5. Only two Arca avellana imported from Russia were positive for AZA-2 above the limit of detection (LOD) but below the limit of quantification (LOQ), with concentrations of 0.68 and 0.71 ng/g, respectively. This study found that the prevalence of AZA-2 was very low in shellfish imported into Korea.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.463-466
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• 2024

Marine microalgal biotoxins can accumulate in seafoods, posing significant risk to human health. These toxins include tetrodotoxin (TTX) and can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP), and amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP). With accelerating climate change, the frequency and intensity of harmful algal blooms capable of producing biotoxins have increased. In South Korea, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) regulates traditional toxins, including TTX and toxins causing PSP, DSP, and ASP. In contrast, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have established regulatory standards for a broader spectrum of marine biotoxins, including yessotoxins (YTXs), brevetoxins (BTXs), azaspiracids (AZAs), and ciguatoxins (CTXs), to ensure seafood safety. To effectively address this global concern, the MFDS launched an R&D project entitled "Establishment of the Safety Management System for Marine Biotoxins" (2020-2024). This project focused on enhancing analytical methods to detect unregulated toxins, assessing contamination levels, and developing rapid detection techniques. The project proposal emphasizes the need to establish a comprehensive monitoring system to mitigate future risks, particularly as climate change expands the range of toxic marine species. This project aims to advance our understanding of marine biotoxin contamination and strengthen seafood safety measures in South Korea by aligning them with international standards. This special issue compiles knowledge accumulated and technical advancements related to marine biotoxins, stemming from the outcomes of this project. It includes 12 papers describing analyses of various regulated and unregulated marine biotoxins, the current prevalence of seafood contamination, toxicity assessments, rapid analytical methods, and the state of safety management.