# Occurrence and Exposure Assessment of Lipophilic Shellfish Toxins in the Zhejiang Province, China

## TL;DR

This study assesses the presence and health risks of lipophilic shellfish toxins in Zhejiang, China, finding low overall risk but higher potential for young children.

## Contribution

The study provides a systematic assessment of lipophilic shellfish toxins and their combined risks with paralytic toxins in a specific region.

## Key findings

- Lipophilic shellfish toxins were detected in 16.3% of shellfish samples, primarily in mussels.
- Acute dietary exposure to lipophilic toxins was low, with minimum tolerable exposure durations of 4.9 to 19.7 years.
- Children under 6 years may face higher health risks in extreme exposure scenarios.

## Abstract

Although lipophilic shellfish toxins (LSTs) pose a significant threat to the health of seafood consumers, their systematic investigation and risk assessment remain scarce. The goals of this study were as follows: (1) analyze LST levels in commercially available shellfish in Zhejiang province, China, and determine factors influencing LST distribution; (2) assess the acute dietary risk of exposure to LSTs for local consumers during the red tide period; (3) explore potential health risks of LSTs in humans; and (4) study the acute risks of simultaneous dietary exposure to LSTs and paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs). A total of 546 shellfish samples were collected. LSTs were detected in 89 samples (16.3%) at concentrations below the regulatory limits. Mussels were the main shellfish species contaminated with LSTs. Spatial variations were observed in the yessotoxin group. Acute exposure to LSTs based on multiple scenarios was low. The minimum tolerable exposure durations for LSTs calculated using the mean and the 95th percentile of consumption data were 19.7 and 4.9 years, respectively. Our findings showed that Zhejiang province residents are at a low risk of combined exposure to LSTs and PSTs; however, the risk may be higher for children under 6 years of age in the extreme scenario.