Biological Toxins from Marine and Freshwater Microalgae [Chapt. 2]

In the last decades the increased occurrence of intoxications caused by biological toxins produced from marine and freshwater microalgae has underlined their relevance as emerging risks for food safety. Biological toxins from algae (i.e. saxitoxin, brevetoxin, okadaic acid, domoic acid) are recognised as a major threat for human and animal health, especially where Harmful Algal Blooms phenomena develop. Many of these toxins are responsible for severe illness or death, mostly related to consumption of seafood contaminated by toxic algae. The present book summarises current knowledge and perspectives for future research on marine and freshwater algal toxins. Specific topics are: overview of the different species producing toxins, their survival strategies in the environment; typologies of toxins, their chemical structure and mechanisms of actions; methods currently in use for their monitoring; emerging issues and future outlooks for their control. The importance of biotoxin monitoring in the framework of the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive is also discussed.