IntraFish 23.03.2004 07:20
Authors of PCB study submit new paper for publication on salmon and
toxins
Seattle (WA), USA: An author of the controversial study published in
Science on PCBs and farmed salmon has told IntraFish that a second paper
on contaminants in fish is pending publication.
David Carpenter of the State University of New York at Albany confirmed
that the authors of the PCB study have submitted research findings to
another journal regarding salmon and flame retardant.
The paper was submitted to Environmental Science and Technology three
weeks ago, Carpenter said, and the authors expect to hear from the
publication within six weeks as to whether the manuscript has been
accepted.
While Carpenter would not discuss the findings specifically, citing a
publication embargo, he did say that the authors found high levels of
flame retardant in farmed salmon. He noted that while the contaminant
was generally higher in farmed fish, there was one species of wild
salmon that had the highest levels of all.
Carpenter explained that flame retardant is found in a variety of
household items, such as upholstery, drapes and computers. When it is
burned, the toxin enters the air and then settles into the ocean, where
it can infect fish and other marine organisms.
The information contained in the flame retardant study is derived from
the same data set that was gathered for the PCB study, Carpenter said,
adding that other papers on toxins in salmon - such as metals - will be
forthcoming as the authors tested for 50 chemicals in all.
The PCB study, which was published in January, found that farmed salmon
generally contains higher levels of PCBs, dioxins and other contaminants
than wild salmon. Based on their findings, the researchers recommended
limiting farmed salmon consumption to one meal per month. The study
touched of a media storm and was refuted by the farmed salmon industry.
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