Posted by oracle on November 20, 2002, at 11:26:10
In reply to FISH OILS THE NEW GENERATION ANTI-DEPRESSANT, posted by freedom2001 on November 18, 2002, at 21:17:10
Well ?!?!
http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/Pn31/pn31p19c.htm
DDT and PCBs in cod liver oil
Recent collaborative studies have been carried out by Greenpeace Research Laboratories at Exeter University (UK) to analyse twenty two samples of fish oil. Seventeen of the samples (mostly cod liver oil) were obtained over the counter, marked as dietary supplements. This is apparently the first time that fish oils from retail outlets have been subject to independent scrutiny.
Twenty one of the samples were found to contain detectable residues of organochlorine pesticides including DDT and lindane, PCBs and hexachlorobenzene (HCB). Highest contamination involved PCBs. DDT was found in nearly all samples [at levels up to 148 µg/litre (parts per billion)] which are all below the limit specified by the US Food and Drug Administration. However, in the UK there are no specific limits set for pesticide residues for fish oils. The FAO Codex Alimentarius, (the international body which establishes maximum residue levels) appears to contain no recommendations for limits on organochlorine pesticides in fish oils, although oils derived from fish and marine mammals are recognised as a commodity group.
Greenpeace say that under certain circumstances, such as for therapeutic purposes, fish oil could contribute significantly to the dietary intake of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides. In addition, since the substances analysed in this research only form part of the possible persistent organochlorine pollutants in fish oil, other chemicals such as chlorinated dioxins, toxaphene, chlordane and heptachlor should be included in future in order to asses the full scope of the problem.MN Jacobs and PA Johnston, Greenpeace Research Laboratories, University of Exeter, EX4 4QE.
poster:oracle
thread:128210
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021116/msgs/128459.html