Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Moves Beyond Alaska's Shoreline
Just back from the beach in Sand Point, Jackie McConnell carried a bucket of clams and cockles into her motel room at the Anchor Inn.
McConnell is the project coordinator for the Knik Tribe's program for monitoring paralytic shellfish poisoning, or PSP — a dangerous and often fatal neurotoxin that can show up in local shellfish.
PSP is typically found during the warm summer months, but McConnell says the toxin has been showing up in butter clams and cockles for much longer.
"They are basically hot all year round," she said...
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