Toxin halts shellfish harvesting in region

By Sandi Doughton
Seattle Times staff reporter

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The sunny weather that's luring Western Washington residents to beaches is also fueling a dangerous rise in the toxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning.

The Washington Department of Health shut down recreational shellfish harvesting throughout King County and sections of Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties yesterday after discovering toxin concentrations up to 20 times higher than are considered safe.

"You could be hospitalizing people with those numbers," said Frank Cox, state marine biotoxin coordinator.

"And I think the weather we'll be having over the next week will fuel the bloom and drive those numbers even higher."

The shellfish closure applies to all types of clams, mussels, oysters, scallops, cockles and moon snails. Any shellfish harvested recently in the closed areas should be thrown out, Cox said. Crab and shrimp are not covered, though health officials recommend cleaning them thoroughly and discarding the guts, where some of the toxin may be present.

The closure covers the central Puget Sound basin from south of Mukilteo to the Tacoma Narrows and the entire eastern side of the Kitsap Peninsula, including Bainbridge Island.

Sometimes called red tide, paralytic shellfish poisoning is caused by a toxin produced by algae. But the water doesn't have to be red to be contaminated, Cox said. And it's impossible to tell if shellfish are tainted by looking, sniffing or tasting. Cooking and freezing do not destroy the toxin, which can be lethal.

In 2000, nine people in Pierce County were sickened and five were hospitalized after eating mussels tainted with the toxin, which attacks nerves. Symptoms of paralytic shellfish poisoning include numbness and tingling of the lips, tongue or fingers, and difficulty swallowing. In high doses, the toxin paralyzes the respiratory system.

Local health departments are posting warning signs around the region, but many stretches of public and private beach may not have warnings, even though they're included in the closure.

For up-to-date information, call the Health Department's Shellfish Hotline at 800-562-5632 or check the Marine Biotoxin Web site, www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/sf/biotoxin.HTM.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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