September 5, 2014
Shellfish in Kuantan port waters are contaminated with the potentially deadly PSP.
KUANTAN:
The public is advised not to pick or consume shellfish like cockles and
mussels in the Kuantan Port waters of Tanjung Gelam, near here, as the
shellfish are contaminated with the toxin, paralytic shellfish poisoning
(PSP).State Rural Development, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Committee chairman, Datuk Shafik Fauzan Sharif said tests conducted on samples of mussels and plankton showed toxin readings of between 317 and 3,560 microgrammes (ug) per 100 grammes.
“These toxin readings are above the standard set at 80 ug /100g, hence could endanger consumers’ health and even cause death if no immediate treatment is sought,” he said after closing the Strengthening Pahang Fishery Community Seminar, here, today.
The toxin contamination is the first to occur in Pahang waters. It was detected when a number of individuals experienced food poisoning after eating mussels from the area in November last year followed by a similar case in August this year.
In the second incident, the toxin was detected through tests conducted by the Fisheries Department’s security bureau on samples of mussels from the area when a group of Indonesian workers suffered food poisoning after eating the shellfish on Aug 1.
Pahang Fisheries Department director, Adnan Hussain said the department was investigating the source of the contamination and as a precautionary measure, it had placed signboards telling the public not to pick or eat shellfish from the area.
“We will also analyse samples of water from the area each week to determine the toxin levels and will issue a warning if the water there is not safe for the public,” he said.
- BERNAMA
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