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    • Data from monitoring of shellfish for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) and Domoic Acid Poisoning (DAP) by the Washington State Department of Health, 1989-1999 (NCEI Accession 0000580)

    Metadata Updated: April 1, 2025

    The state of Washington routinely experiences seasonal restrictions on commercial and recreational shellfish harvest due to two toxic phytoplankton syndromes, Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) and Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP), which is often referred to as Domoic Acid Poisoning (DAP). The biotoxin that causes PSP temporarily interferes with the transmission of nerve impulses in warm-blooded animals, causing symptoms in humans such as, numbness and tingling of the lips, tongue, face and extra difficulty talking, breathing, swallowing and muscle incoordinations. Symptoms develop quickly (within 1-2 hours of consumption) and can result in death. The species that causes PSP in Washington state marine waters is Alexandrium catenella. Alexandrium is usually present in small numbers; however, when environmental conditions are optimum, rapid reproduction occurs. Filter-feeding shellfish can accumulate the toxins to dangerous levels during these "blooms". Domoic acid poisoning is caused by eating fish, shellfish or crab containing the toxin. Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and abdominal cramps within 24 hours of digestion. In severe cases, neurological symptoms develop within 48 hours and include headache, dizziness, confusion, disorientation, loss of short-term memory, motor weakness, seizures, profuse respiratory secretions, cardiac arrhythmias, coma and possibly death. Domoic acid produced by marine diatoms of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia, was first detected on the Pacific coast in 1991 when several pelican and cormorant deaths were link to domoic acid in anchovies. The Washington State Department of Health routinely monitors for PSP and ASP in shellfish from areas throughout the state. Areas are closed for harvest of molluscan shellfish when PSP toxin levels are equal to or exceed 80 ug toxin/100 grams shellfish tissue. Molluscan shellfish areas are closed when domoic acid (DA) levels reach 15 ppm in a composite sample of six shellfish (this level was changed to 20 ppm in 2001), whereas Dungeness crab areas are closed when DA levels reach 30 ppm in three of six individual crab viscera.

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    License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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    Dates

    Metadata Date 2025-01-26T18:04:22Z
    Metadata Created Date June 25, 2021
    Metadata Updated Date April 1, 2025
    Reference Date(s) September 18, 2001 (publication)
    Frequency Of Update asNeeded

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/accessions

    Other Data Resources

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    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date 2025-01-26T18:04:22Z
    Metadata Created Date June 25, 2021
    Metadata Updated Date April 1, 2025
    Reference Date(s) September 18, 2001 (publication)
    Responsible Party (Point of Contact)
    Contact Email
    Guid gov.noaa.nodc:0000580
    Access Constraints Cite as: Adams, Nicolaus G.; Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife > Shellfish Laboratory (2001). Data from monitoring of shellfish for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) and Domoic Acid Poisoning (DAP) by the Washington State Department of Health, 1989-1999 (NCEI Accession 0000580). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0000580. Accessed [date]., Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
    Bbox East Long -122.21675
    Bbox North Lat 48.9903
    Bbox South Lat 46.30074
    Bbox West Long -124.76044
    Coupled Resource
    Frequency Of Update asNeeded
    Graphic Preview Description Preview graphic
    Graphic Preview File https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:0000580
    Graphic Preview Type PNG
    Harvest Object Id fd2ee605-ab02-4396-85a9-48cdc9a03778
    Harvest Source Id c084a438-6f6b-470d-93e0-16aeddb9f513
    Harvest Source Title NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/accessions
    Licence accessLevel: Public
    Lineage
    Metadata Language eng
    Metadata Type geospatial
    Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-124.76044, 46.30074], [-122.21675, 46.30074], [-122.21675, 48.9903], [-124.76044, 48.9903], [-124.76044, 46.30074]]]}
    Progress completed
    Spatial Data Service Type
    Spatial Reference System
    Spatial Harvester True
    Temporal Extent Begin 1989-01-02
    Temporal Extent End 1999-12-29

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