Experts: Known Benefits of Salmon Outweigh Suspected Risks of MercuryJune 5, 2008 -- Levels of mercury and other trace metals in both wild and farmed salmon taken from Canadian waters were found to be well below those considered safe, a new study shows.Total mercury levels in the wild salmon tested were three times higher than in farmed, but total mercury intake from both types of fish was found to be lower than from many other foods.The study was funded by the Canadian fishing industry, which supplies much of the farmed salmon eaten in the United States.In recent years, concerns have been raised about the safety of farmed salmon vs. wild, and there have also been suggestions that Canadian and other Atlantic-farmed salmon contains more contaminants than farm-raised fish from other areas, such as Chile.
Variations may exist because of industry concentration, as well as geological factors.The EPA and the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, recognize salmon as a low-mercury fish. When mercury enters aquatic resources, such as the water bodies that host wild salmon, bacteria initiate a chemical reaction that converts mercury to its toxic form, methylmercury. This is the form of mercury in wild salmon that raises health concerns.Wild salmon is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. The Food and Drug Administration suggests that shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish contain high levels of mercury, with albacore tuna having higher levels of mercury …
"The current scientific evidence therefore supports the weekly consumption of oily fish species as recommended by the American But the new study did not examine levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in the fish, a chemical compound once widely used in manufacturing.In a widely reported 2004 study, researchers examined PCB levels in farmed and wild salmon from around the world, concluding that farmed salmon contained significantly higher levels of the chemical than wild varieties of the fish.The study found the greatest PCB levels in salmon from farms in northern Europe and the lowest levels in fish farmed in Chile. Georgetown University.George Blackburn, MD, PhD, Harvard Medical School, Boston.FDA Recommendations on Fish and Salmon, March 2004.WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Human-made sources include emissions from industry.
Leaf Group Ltd. The study went so far as to suggest that the health risks may outweigh the health benefits of eating salmon.Geographic location plays a key role on the mercury content of salmon, both wild and farm raised. Shark.
Aside from the government’s efforts to preserve their lives, some shark meat can be totally … In these bodies of water, mercury turns into methylmercury, a neurotoxin found in most fish in at least small amounts. That’s because it’s a great source of protein, micronutrients, and healthy fats. The newly published study was conducted in an attempt to address these concerns.Researchers measured mercury levels as well as levels of 18 other trace metals in commercial salmon feed and farmed and wild salmon from British Columbia fisheries and waters.They found that levels of all the metals tested were well below recommended consumption guidelines. A study done on children of the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic showed neurological problems stemming from mothers consuming pilot wh…
The study found negligible differences in mercury content between the two sources from salmon in British Columbia, finding salmon a safe source of omega-3 fatty acids. These airborne emissions eventually fall to the earth's surface, contaminants soils and surface water. In the United States, Wallace gathered data that indicated 16.9% of women who self-identify as Native American, Asian, Pacific Islander, or multiracial exceed the recommended reference dose of mercury. Typically, salmon is available as wild or farm raised. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, omega-3 fatty acids can lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of developing heart disease. LIVESTRONG.com may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. They concluded that eating farmed Atlantic salmon, "may pose health risks that detract from the beneficial effects of fish consumption.