Hidden hazards in shellfish: The race for researchers to uncover toxic threats in seafood
Scientists are in a race against time to uncover the toxic secrets inside the seafood we consume.
Geoduck clams are a valuable food export for the United States and play a key role in supporting the coastal economies of Washington state and Alaska. As they are often harvested for both domestic consumption and international trade, making sure they are safe for consumption is essential.
Despite the geoduck clam not being the most popular of the seafood options on the menu, these massive mollusks are a key export to Asian markets and play a crucial role in the coastal economies of Washington state and Alaska.
In fact, divers in these regions harvested over $60 million worth of geoducks in 2023, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
NIST has developed a material made from geoduck tissue that will support more accurate measurements of arsenic in shellfish.
— National Institute of Standards and Technology (@NIST) March 13, 2025
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However, the clams harbour a secret toxin. Inorganic arsenic is a known carcinogen, and scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), in collaboration with NOAA Fisheries Seafood Inspection Program, the Washington State Department of Health, and the Southeast Alaska Regional Dive Fisheries Association, have worked to create what they call a standard reference material using geoduck tissue, which helps improve the accuracy of measurements of inorganic arsenic in geoduck clams and similar shellfish, therefore maintaining the safety of geoduck clams and other shellfish sold in the States.
This advancement will help agencies, testing laboratories, and seafood producers ensure that their products meet the required safety standards in the United States.
“Many marine organisms absorb arsenic because it is naturally present in the ocean environment,” said NIST biologist Colleen Bryan Sallee, who led the development of the material. “This material will help ensure that inorganic arsenic is accurately measured in shellfish for determining food safety.”
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