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Study Shows PCB's in Fishmeal
(from Jersey Coast Anglers Association February 2000 Newsletter)
At a NJ Marine Council meeting that we debated a ban on reduction boats in state waters, I stated that we should be concerned about PCB contamination in fishmeal. The fishmeal industry and the council simply ignored my concerns. The fishmeal industry was clear that there was no problem. They accused me of using scare tactics since I suggested using fishmeal as animal feed could lead to contamination of our pork, chicken and beef supply. This would also be a concern for aquaculture-raised fish. I have received a couple of articles on this subject by email. I have enclosed one of those articles. If you want the others send me an email. These articles confirm that JCAA was correct in our concern and makes it clear that scientists around the world are facing similar concerns. This also makes it clear that we need to reopen this discussion in a more serious manner. We can no longer ignore PCB contamination. This should also be part of the discussion of PCB contamination in the Hudson River .
FARMED salmon can contain up to ten times the amount of pesticides and chemicals that is usually found in wild salmon, according to new research.
Toxins discovered in farmed fish include polychlorinated biphenals (PCBs) which are present in the environment and can attack the nervous system, causing learning difficulties in children and suppressing the body’s immune system.
Growing concern has prompted the World Health Organization and the EU to revise their guidelines on the recommended intake of recommended intake of salmon to a tenth of the previous figure. In an echo of the BSE crisis, researchers believe the problem may lie in the food fed to salmon. This is made from fish trawled from the oceans and concentrated into pellets Minute traces of toxins are multiplied into a more significant dose .
Friends of the Earth yesterday called for more government research and the compulsory labeling of all farmed fish.
Dr Michael Easton, who recently carried out a pilot study for Canada’s David Suzuki Foundation, said: “The results were very clear farmed fish appeared to have a much higher level of contamination and in wild fish the difference was extremely noticeable”.
The study is revealed in a BBC2 program, Warnings from the Wild. The Price of Salmon, to be broadcast on Sunday.
The program found that the farmed fish industry is the fastest-growing food sector in the world, and that salmon farming is a production and marketing success story But it has had a catastrophic impact on populations of wild salmon near the farms.
Apart from spreading parasites and poisoning local marine life, farmed salmon were escaping and upsetting the genetic make-up of wild salmon.
Although farmed salmon contains health-enhancing fatty acids, the programme uncovers evidence that farmed salmon may be contaminated with toxins which have implications for human health.
Dr Paul Johnson of Exeter University, a senior scientist with environmental group Greenpeace, said chemicals such as PCBs were potentially dangerous to humans.
“The problem with these particular chemicals is that they are very persistent - they don’t break down in the environment to any significant degree and tend to build up in the fatty tissues in the body and are very toxic”.
It was theoretically possible to exceed the new recommended European Union PCB and dioxin limits with just one 125g piece of salmon.
Salmon fishing supports 6,000 jobs in the Highlands, brings in #250 million to rural economies and is worth #500 million in retail sales, according to the Scottish Salmon Growers Association.
However, it has been in crisis in recent times and under attack from environmental campaigners.
It has also suffered from the outbreak of infectious salmon anemia (ISA), a fatal viral disease, which, although no threat to human health, is enough to make many pause over their smoked salmon sandwich.
Scottish Quality Salmon (SQS), the organization that represents more than 70 per cent of Scotland’s farmed salmon industry, yesterday expressed “outrage” at the allegations against the industry.
Brian Simpson, director of SQS, said: “We have confidence in Scottish salmon as a highly-nutritious food, packed with protein and Omega 3 essential oils which are recognized as vital ingredients in a healthy diet”.
The Food Standards Agency said the health benefits of eating moderate amounts of fish, including salmon outweighed any potential risk.