Further Analyses
Some parameters are only necessary for specific products or for answering specific questions. Examples of these include polyphenols in tea, piperine in pepper, or coumarin in cinnamon.
The GBA Group provides a team of experts that alway stays up to date with the constantly changing requirements for various sectors and products. With our long-term experience as a foundation, our customers receive high-quality support with all of their concerns related to analytical planning, sampling, and analysis, as well as detailed legal assessments and consulting.
Algal Toxins
Algal toxins are among the most poisonous biogenic substances that we know. They are produced by certain microalgae called dinoflagellates. These organisms, however, represent a source of nutrients for mussels, snails, and crustaceans. That’s how algal toxins can end up in the human body. In order to prevent algal toxin poisoning, it is essential to continuously monitor the mussel beds in Europe.
The following groups of toxins are analyzed:
- ASP (amnesic shellfish poisoning): In this case, the domoic acid causes permanent short-term memory loss and brain damage.
- DSP (diarrhetic shellfish poisoning): This group of toxins includes okadaic acid and azaspiacid. They cause severe diarrhea.
- PSP (paralytic shellfish poisoning): The main toxin in this group is saxitoxin. It is more poisonous than synthetic neurotoxins and induces paralysis, which in severe cases can be fatal.
