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Comparative Study
. 2004 Jan 9;303(5655):226-9.
doi: 10.1126/science.1091447.

Global assessment of organic contaminants in farmed salmon

Ronald A Hites  1 , Jeffery A Foran, David O Carpenter, M Coreen Hamilton, Barbara A Knuth, Steven J Schwager
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Global assessment of organic contaminants in farmed salmon

Ronald A Hites et al. Science. .

Abstract

The annual global production of farmed salmon has increased by a factor of 40 during the past two decades. Salmon from farms in northern Europe, North America, and Chile are now available widely year-round at relatively low prices. Salmon farms have been criticized for their ecological effects, but the potential human health risks of farmed salmon consumption have not been examined rigorously. Having analyzed over 2 metric tons of farmed and wild salmon from around the world for organochlorine contaminants, we show that concentrations of these contaminants are significantly higher in farmed salmon than in wild. European-raised salmon have significantly greater contaminant loads than those raised in North and South America, indicating the need for further investigation into the sources of contamination. Risk analysis indicates that consumption of farmed Atlantic salmon may pose health risks that detract from the beneficial effects of fish consumption.

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Comment in

  • Toxicology. Salmon survey stokes debate about farmed fish.
    Stokstad E. Stokstad E. Science. 2004 Jan 9;303(5655):154-5. doi: 10.1126/science.303.5655.154a. Science. 2004. PMID: 14715982 No abstract available.
  • The health benefits of eating salmon.
    Rembold CM. Rembold CM. Science. 2004 Jul 23;305(5683):475; author reply 475. doi: 10.1126/science.305.5683.475b. Science. 2004. PMID: 15273376 No abstract available.
  • Risk-benefit analysis of eating farmed salmon.
    Tuomisto JT, Tuomisto J, Tainio M, Niittynen M, Verkasalo P, Vartiainen T, Kiviranta H, Pekkanen J. Tuomisto JT, et al. Science. 2004 Jul 23;305(5683):476-7; author reply 476-7. doi: 10.1126/science.305.5683.476. Science. 2004. PMID: 15273377 No abstract available.
  • Cancer risk and salmon intake.
    Lund E, Engeset D, Alsaker E, Skeie G, Hjårtaker A, Lundebye AK, Niebor E. Lund E, et al. Science. 2004 Jul 23;305(5683):477-8; author reply 477-8. doi: 10.1126/science.305.5683.477. Science. 2004. PMID: 15273378 No abstract available.
  • Contaminant levels in farmed salmon.
    Weaver DE. Weaver DE. Science. 2004 Jul 23;305(5683):478; author reply 478. doi: 10.1126/science.305.5683.478a. Science. 2004. PMID: 15273379 No abstract available.

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