Tag: Pcbs

Salmon contains a significant number of essential nutrients, but the specific chemical profile varies markedly between wild and farmed varieties. A comprehensive review reveals a complex mix of healthy fatty acids and vital minerals, alongside potential environmental contaminants that influence its overall health profile.

Environmental pollution, including industrial discharges and atmospheric deposition, introduces various contaminants into the marine ecosystem that can accumulate in fish like herring. As a small, oily fish, herring is susceptible to absorbing pollutants from its environment, including chemicals, heavy metals, and microplastics.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury, with larger predatory species accumulating higher levels due to a process called biomagnification. While fish is praised for its omega-3s, this common toxic element is just one of several potential downsides to excessive or uninformed consumption.

According to a 2020 study, wild Atlantic salmon sampled in Norway showed concentrations of dioxins, dioxin-like PCBs, mercury, and arsenic that were up to three times higher than those in farmed salmon, though all were below EU safety limits. This raises valid questions about what toxins are in wild caught salmon.

According to a 2023 study by the Environmental Working Group, freshwater fish can contain up to 280 times the level of "forever chemicals" (PFAS) compared to commercially caught saltwater fish, highlighting the critical question: what is the most contaminated fish to eat?

According to a 2004 study published in the journal *Science*, researchers found that farmed salmon contained significantly higher levels of certain toxic contaminants, including PCBs, than wild salmon. This discovery brought into focus the critical question: what contaminants are in farmed salmon and how can they affect human health?

While historical methods left cod liver oil vulnerable to environmental pollutants, today's advanced refinement processes effectively remove most contaminants. Are there toxins in cod liver oil today? The short answer is that high-quality supplements are exceptionally pure and safe, unlike their raw historical counterparts.

Contaminants like mercury and PCBs can accumulate in the body over time, which is a major reason why shouldn't we eat fish skin from certain sources, especially if the fish comes from polluted waters. This cumulative effect poses significant health hazards that are not immediately apparent.

While the herring is generally considered a safe, low-mercury fish, wild-caught herring from certain historically polluted areas, like the Baltic Sea, may contain higher concentrations of persistent organic pollutants such as dioxins and PCBs. Understanding what toxins are in herring, and what factors influence their presence, is key to informed seafood choices.

According to a 2021 study by the Swedish state research institute RISE, levels of omega-3s, selenium, and vitamin D have decreased in farmed salmon due to feed changes. This has fueled public debate, with many asking: is Norwegian farmed salmon unhealthy?