Saxitoxin (Noun)
Meaning
A powerful neurotoxin produced by certain dinoflagellates found in red tides; it can accumulate in mollusks that feed on the dinoflagellates and cause food poisoning to humans.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- Saxitoxin is a potent neurotoxin that can cause paralysis and even death in humans who consume contaminated shellfish.
- The red tide that swept through the coastal waters was found to contain high levels of saxitoxin, prompting a warning against eating local seafood.
- Researchers have been studying the effects of saxitoxin on the nervous system, hoping to develop a treatment for paralytic shellfish poisoning.
- The mussels were found to contain high levels of saxitoxin, making them unsafe for human consumption.
- Saxitoxin is a naturally occurring toxin produced by certain dinoflagellates that can accumulate in mollusks and cause food poisoning in humans.