Date: 2004-01-04
Source: BBC
Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3380735.stm


Scientists urge people to limit the amount of farmed salmon they eat, claiming it could increase the risk of cancer.

Toxin check
Scientists of University of Indiana team examined the levels of 14 organchlorine food contamiants inclusing dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs - all rated as likely to cause cancer in humans by US authorities, including dioxins and PCBs.

Farm-raised Atlantic salmon, for example as raised in Scottish farms - was found to have significantly higher levels of 13 toxins compared with wild salmon.

Farmed salmon are often fed fishmeal produced from other types of fish that are generally not eaten, transferring the toxins from these fish directly into the salmon and, over time, accumulating higher levels than would be found in wild salmon which have a different diet.

Tests on this salmon fishmeal in each region revealed a correlation between toxin levels and those in the fish purchased there.

Overall levels of toxins, were found to be highest in farmed salmon from Scotland and the Faroe Islands.