Health impact of unicellular algae of the<i>Ostreopsis</i>genus blooms in the Mediterranean Sea: experience of the French Mediterranean coast surveillance network from 2006 to 2009

In the Mediterranean, Ostreopsis blooms induce skin and respiratory disorders when human beings are exposed to saltwater with a high concentration of algal cells. However, palytoxin dosages carried out on the food chain (urchins, mussels) indicate that this risk of toxins accumulation in seafood must be taken into account and that the surveillance network should be upgraded accordingly.