Occurrence of marine biotoxins on Bulgarian Black Sea coastal waters in 2021

Marine biotoxins are produced by certain phytoplankton species and used to accumulate in filter-feeding marine organisms. The occurrence of marine biotoxins in all aquatic environments and latitudes is variable in time and space. Thus, it is an essentially natural phenomenon, but the occurrence of toxigenic phytoplankton cannot be completely avoided or eliminated. A serious concern appears if these substances accumulate at high levels in seafood. If it is consumed by mammals including humans, severe illness of consumers of intoxicated seafood may result. The aim of this study is to assess the presence of marine biotoxins in plankton samples taken in 2021 and to compare the determined levels with a previous period. Plankton samples (n = 21) were collected in 2021 along the whole Bulgarian coastline (Black Sea). The presence of hydrophilic (domoic acid (DA)) and lipophilic toxins (okadaic acid, dinophysis toxin – 1, dinophysis toxin -2, azaspiracid-1, goniodomin A, pectenotoxin-2 (PTX2), yessotoxin, spirolide-1 and gymnodimine A) was investigated via liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Results indicated the presence of only DA in three samples and PTX2 in two samples. The positive samples were sporadically distributed throughout the study period. During 2016–2019, LC-MS/MS analysis confirmed the presence of DA, PTX2, YTX, SPX-1 and GDA in plankton net samples collected from the same locations reported here. The matching toxins (DA and PTX2) were at comparable levels in both periods of investigation, thus lower than in other European waters where harmful algal blooms are registered. These results show the persistent appearance of some marine biotoxins in Bulgarian waters. Although levels were low in the monitored periods, a constant monitoring is required in order that toxic events by seafood consumption be avoided.