Geoducks and Arsenic: DOH Says Geoduck Safe to Eat - Except for Skin

[Update 1/10: "In my opinion, it's the problem with the form and our inability to put more specific information on it." Bill Dewey, Taylor Shellfish explaining why the "debacle" resulted after  Chinese testing showed arsenic and paralytic shellfish poisoning in geoduck above levels they consider safe. Or was it political? If the Chinese wanted to make a political point they could have made a far stronger point by ordering Airbus jetliners or timber from Russia. What the shellfish industry may want to consider is that testing shellfish in the US could be improved, not only for the Chinese but for US citizens as well. Anyone who has suffered through vibriosis contracted from from Puget Sound's oysters would most likely agree.]

[Update 1/7 5PM: Added table showing levels of inorganic arsenic found in geoduck samples. Shown is a "whole" sample (D1) which was above China's .5 ppm*. This was not mentioned in the 1/6/2014 DOH press release below, nor were the higher individual samples (e.g., B2 being ~1.75 ppm vs the 1.175 in the table below).

*Note: EarthFix has reported the World Health Organization is said to be considering setting safe levels for inorganic arsenic in food in the .2-.3ppm range in 2014. In addition, they also noted this: “I’d be nervous after a big rainfall event,” said Kathy Cottingham, a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Dartmouth College who studies arsenic exposure and human health. “With soils that contaminated you need to worry about the episodic events of a big rainstorm or snowmelt causing pulses into the water.”

(EarthFix/Anthony Schick)

Arsenic in Puget Sound Sediments and Soils of Vashon and Maury Islands





[Update 12/20: DNR suspends harvesting in Poverty Bay's Redondo tract where Arsenic was detected by China. The Puyallup Tribe which had been harvesting in the area also agreed to suspend harvesting until further testing could be done.]

[Update 12/20: Point Reyes Light (PRL) in Marin County reports on the recreational shellfish harvesting ban in Tomales Bay, near Drakes Estero, due to a bloom of the algae causing PSP toxins in shellfish. Separate from the Chinese ban of west coast shellfish for Arsenic, California has banned recreational harvesting in the area for fear of shellfish poisoning. Of significance is the state noting: "It is the first time the toxin, which typically closes non-commercial harvest during summer months, has appeared in winter in the inner and middle sections of the bay." PRL also notes the California Department of Health saying there is no understanding of what causes the algal blooms and therefore no means of predicting the events.]

[Update 12/20: King TV also reported on the Vashon/Maury Islands' elevated levels of Arsenic and Lead in October. The broadcast can be seen by clicking here.]

 

"State begins wide soil cleanup effort"

(Vashon Maury Island Beachcomber, October 9,2013)

 

"...the state needs to do more soil sampling there

to better understand the extent of the contamination..."

 

Soils on parts of Vashon and Maury Islands

contaminated with Arsenic and Lead.

"Take it away and cover it up. It will be fine."

Area where past testing showed elevated levels

of Arsenic, Cadmium and Lead in

Puget Sound sediments and where

"geoduck of concern" came from.

 

Dig it up, take it away, put down more soil - good as new