No abstract

Paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) episodes cause important economic impacts due to closure of shellfish production areas in order to protect human health. These closures, if are frequent and persistent, can seriously affect shellfish producers and the seafood industry, among others. In this study, we have developed an alternative processing method for bivalves with PSP content above the legal limit, which allows reducing toxicity to acceptable levels. A modification of the PSP detoxifying procedure stablished by Decision 96/77/EC of the European Union in Acanthocardia tuberculatum, was developed and implemented for PSP elimination in other species of bivalves. The procedure was applied to 6 batches of mussels, 2 batches of clams and 2 batches of scallops, achieving detoxification rates of around 85%. A viable industrial protocol which allows the transformation of a product at risk into a safe product was developed. Although a significant reduction was obtained, in a sample circa 9000 µg STX diHCl equiv/kg, the final toxin level in these highly toxic mussels did not fall below the European limit. The processing protocol described may be applied efficiently to mussels, clams and scallops and it may be a major solution to counteract the closure of shellfish harvesting areas, especially if persistent. Highlights  An industrial protocol aimed at reducing PSP toxin levels was developed and optimized in mussels, clams and scallops.  The procedure was applied to some batches of PSP-contaminated molluscs obtaining ± 85 % detoxification and a safe product.  However, one sample with an exceptionally high toxicity, 9000 µg STX diHCl equiv/kg, did not fall below the European limit.  An economically feasible bivalve canning processing was implemented, guaranteeing the manufacture of a safe product.

Rapid and cost-effective methods to monitor the presence of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) toxins in seawater samples in an easy and reliable manner are required to protect human health and avoid economic losses to shellfish industry. Immunoassays for the detection of okadaic acid (OA) and dinophysistoxin-1 and dinophysistoxin-2 are developed by immobilising OA on self-assembled monothiols or dithiols in an ordered and oriented way, providing an effective limit of detection of ∼1 ng OA equiv./mL seawater. The immunoassays are applied to the analysis of the particulate fraction of seawater samples from two Catalan harbours (NW Mediterranean) and samples collected periodically from the Galician Rias (E Atlantic), as well as a reference mussel sample. Results are in agreement with LC-MS/MS and the certified values. OA concentration in seawater correlates with Dinophysis cell abundance, with a 1-2 weeks lag. The immunoassays provide powerful high-throughput analytical methods potentially applicable as alternative monitoring tools.

La redacción del PDU metropolitano —el plan urbanístico que definirá el modelo territorial de las próximas décadas en el ámbito metropolitano—, responde a dos lógicas: estratégica y urbanística. A su vez, se sitúa a caballo entre dos escalas: regional y municipal. Por tanto, debe construir un discurso inclusivo, aflorar la consciencia metropolitana a partir de los principios de cooperación y reconocimiento mutuo, y reforzar los vínculos de proximidad como una herramienta de cohesión social. Desde el inicio del proceso de redacción, hemos entendido la participación ciudadana como un proceso para compartir el conocimiento generado y recoger la voz de diferentes agentes del territorio. Para ello, fue necesario un ejercicio de responsabilidad, innovación y transparencia. Durante seis meses, se realizaron varias sesiones de participación por todo el territorio metropolitano. Al finalizar este período de consulta, recopilamos los principales retos, restricciones, resultados y aprendizajes. La ponencia se centra en la participación en documentos de carácter estratégico y urbanístico dentro del contexto metropolitano, la metodología y resultados del trabajo vinculado al Avance del PDU, tanto durante su redacción como durante el período de información pública, y las principales conclusiones y aprendizajes a tener en cuenta en próximas fases. The drafting of the Metropolitan Urban Master Plan (PDU) will define the territorial model for the next decades in the metropolitan area, based on two different logics: strategical and urban. In turn, it works on two territorial scales: regional and municipal. Therefore, the PDU must build an inclusive vision, raise a metropolitan awareness based on the principles of cooperation and mutual recognition, and strengthen the bonds of proximity as a tool of social cohesion. From the beginning of the drafting of the Plan’s Proposal, citizen participation has been understood as a process aimed at sharing knowledge and gathering the voice of different civil stakeholders. It was necessary to take into account responsibility, innovation and transparency. Over 6 months, ad hoc participation forums were deployed in working sessions all around the metropolitan area. When the public consultation finished, we gathered its main challenges, constraints, outputs and learnings. This paper focus on: participation in documents of an strategic and urban planning nature within the metropolitan context, the methodology and re- sults of the work related to the PDU Proposal during its drafting and during the period of public information and the main findings and learnings to be taken into account in future stages.