General Information

Event name: US-90-025
Country: UNITED STATES
Nature of the harmful event:
Seafood toxins
Event directly affected:
Humans
Toxicity detected: Yes (Approximate range: 7,750 µg STXeq / 100 g.)
Associated syndrome: PSP
Unexplained toxicity: No
Species implicated in toxin transmission (transvector): Butter clams
Report the outcome of a monitoring programme: Yes
Event occurred before in this location: Yes (Previous occurrences N.E. At Perryville, Alaska with mussels.)
Individuals to contact: OSTASZ, Michael J.

Location & Date

[View larger map]
Location: Latitude: , Longitude:
General location information: Volcano Bay., Alaska.
HAB Area code(s): US-26
Additional location information: Volcano Bay (SW end of), Aleutian Peninsula, 3 miles across, 28 miles E of village of Cold Bay (55º13'N, 162º00'W).
Bloom event dates (yyyy/mm/dd): Event Date:1990-06-27
Start: 1990-06-27,
Quarantine levels dates (yyyy/mm/dd):
Additional date-related information: On or about 6/27/90.

Microalgae

Causative organism known: No
Causative Species/Genus: Protogonyaulax sp. ( cells/L)
suspected
Co-Ocurring Species/Genus:
Chlorophyll concentration, if known: µg/l
Additional bloom information:
Event-related bibliography:

Environmental Conditions

Weather: Turbidity (NTU): Wind direction:
Stratified water: No Oxygen content (nL/L): Wind velocity:
Temperature (°C): Oxygen saturation %: Current Direction:
Sechhi disk (m): Salinity: Current Velocity: 0
Nutrient information:
Temperature Range During Event: Max: °C, Min: °C
Salinity Range During Event:
Bloom location in the water column:
Growth:
Growth Comments
Additional Environmental information:

Toxin Assay Information

Species containing the toxin Toxin type Toxin details Max. concentration Assay type
Gastric fluids Saxitoxins 370 Bioassay-Mouse
Butter clams Saxitoxins 7,750 Bioassay-Mouse
Clam broth Saxitoxins 2,650 Bioassay-Mouse
Kit used: No Type of kit used:
Additional information:
Economic losses:
Management decision: Two press releases stating risk of harvesing from unapproved areas (recreational beaches).
Additional harmful effect information: One death - male, 47 years-old. Consumed 35-40 butter clams.
IOC/UNESCO ISSHA
IOC/UNESCO ICES PICES