Is it Safe to Eat Seafood? Weighing Mecury and PCB Contamination Against the Benefits of Omega 3 fats.
Edited by Michael B. Ackerman, D.C La Jolla, CA www.DepthHealing.com
Mercury
Levels of pollutants, such as mercury, tend to be higher in long-lived, larger fish, particularly shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. These fish tend to average about 1,000 ppb (parts per billion) of mercury — the FDA limit for human consumption — while most other fish tend to have about one-tenth to one-third of this amount. Eating a fish with 1,000 ppb of mercury is not necessarily toxic, but it should not be consumed more than once per month and definitely not by young children and pregnant or nursing women. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also advised that fresh-water fish may contain more mercury than commercially caught fish and advises that "If you are pregnant or could become pregnant, are nursing a baby, or feeding a young child, limit consumption of fish caught by family and friends to one meal (about 6 ounces) of fish per week." The same limit is recommended for albacore ("white") tuna, as it may occasionally contain excessive levels of mercury.
Follow this link to see a recent article in USA Today about the 11 best fish to consume based upon their low level of contaminants and their higher levels of heart healthy Omega 3 fats… http://www.usnews.com/listings/best-fish/11-best-fish-high-in-omega3-and-environment-friendly
Polychlorinated Biphenols (PCB’s)
Farmed salmon has higher levels of PCB’s (25-50 ppb) and usually a lack of proper fatty acids, as compared to wild ocean salmon with (.5-5 ppb) PCB’s and a good balance of EPA/DHA fatty acids.
High PCB levels have also been found in…
Pork 18 ppb
Beef 22
Chicken 32
Butter 70
Sardines 57
Skip Jack Tuna 45
White Albacore Tuna 100
(The FDA considers levels of 2000 ppb of PCB’s to be unsafe)
If the diet of a group of 100,000 people were to be adjusted to include 1000 mg of EPA/DHA daily from ‘farmed’ salmon over a typical 70 year lifetime, the increased risk of cancer in this group from consumed PCB’s would result in approximately 16 more people dying of cancer (24 people total) than would otherwise be expected if they had consumed a “Standard American Diet”. However, there would be 7,100 fewer deaths due to heart disease if these people added this amount of fish to their diets!
So a population consuming a typical “Standard American Diet” with the usual proportions of “bad” fats and partially hydrogenated oils from processed, fried and fast foods, that is higher in meat and land animal consumption, have a much greater likelihood of experiencing long-term health problems -- resulting in 7,100 more deaths/ 100,000 individuals. Whereas a population consuming high omega 3 seafoods in their diet, even when it is farmed and contains somewhat higher levels of PCB’s, end up having only 16 more deaths/ 100,000 individuals.
So… we can see by “doing the math” that adding fish regularly to our diet is still overwhelmingly a very good idea!
Edited by Michael B. Ackerman, D.C La Jolla, CA www.DepthHealing.com
Mercury
Levels of pollutants, such as mercury, tend to be higher in long-lived, larger fish, particularly shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. These fish tend to average about 1,000 ppb (parts per billion) of mercury — the FDA limit for human consumption — while most other fish tend to have about one-tenth to one-third of this amount. Eating a fish with 1,000 ppb of mercury is not necessarily toxic, but it should not be consumed more than once per month and definitely not by young children and pregnant or nursing women. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also advised that fresh-water fish may contain more mercury than commercially caught fish and advises that "If you are pregnant or could become pregnant, are nursing a baby, or feeding a young child, limit consumption of fish caught by family and friends to one meal (about 6 ounces) of fish per week." The same limit is recommended for albacore ("white") tuna, as it may occasionally contain excessive levels of mercury.
Follow this link to see a recent article in USA Today about the 11 best fish to consume based upon their low level of contaminants and their higher levels of heart healthy Omega 3 fats… http://www.usnews.com/listings/best-fish/11-best-fish-high-in-omega3-and-environment-friendly
Polychlorinated Biphenols (PCB’s)
Farmed salmon has higher levels of PCB’s (25-50 ppb) and usually a lack of proper fatty acids, as compared to wild ocean salmon with (.5-5 ppb) PCB’s and a good balance of EPA/DHA fatty acids.
High PCB levels have also been found in…
Pork 18 ppb
Beef 22
Chicken 32
Butter 70
Sardines 57
Skip Jack Tuna 45
White Albacore Tuna 100
(The FDA considers levels of 2000 ppb of PCB’s to be unsafe)
If the diet of a group of 100,000 people were to be adjusted to include 1000 mg of EPA/DHA daily from ‘farmed’ salmon over a typical 70 year lifetime, the increased risk of cancer in this group from consumed PCB’s would result in approximately 16 more people dying of cancer (24 people total) than would otherwise be expected if they had consumed a “Standard American Diet”. However, there would be 7,100 fewer deaths due to heart disease if these people added this amount of fish to their diets!
So a population consuming a typical “Standard American Diet” with the usual proportions of “bad” fats and partially hydrogenated oils from processed, fried and fast foods, that is higher in meat and land animal consumption, have a much greater likelihood of experiencing long-term health problems -- resulting in 7,100 more deaths/ 100,000 individuals. Whereas a population consuming high omega 3 seafoods in their diet, even when it is farmed and contains somewhat higher levels of PCB’s, end up having only 16 more deaths/ 100,000 individuals.
So… we can see by “doing the math” that adding fish regularly to our diet is still overwhelmingly a very good idea!
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