healthy?
Salmon fish (Photo: ShutterStock)
We are used to thinking that fish is a very important food in a healthy diet, but is this true for all fish?
A new study published in the journal Environmental Research found that eating just one serving of freshwater fish - such as trout or salmon - could expose people to a huge amount of harmful chemical compounds.
Researchers have discovered high levels of so-called "permanent chemicals" in fish caught in lakes and rivers in the US. Their study found that eating just one serving of freshwater fish can be equivalent to a month of drinking water with PFAS chemicals at a level high enough to harm consumers.
PFAS - or Para- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds are a group of more than 9,000 different chemicals, some of which are already banned or highly restricted.Manufacturers often use them in non-stick cookware, food packaging, stain repellants, coatings and firefighting foams.
Accumulate and never disintegrate
These chemicals are almost impossible to eliminate and they can accumulate in animals along the food chain and also contaminate everything from drinking water to food and personal care products.
PFAS can build up in our bodies and never break down.
Studies have found them in the blood of most people, including newborn babies.
A chemical found in many places.
GIF of a frying pan (Photo: Giphy)
In the current study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 500 fish fillet samples collected between 2013 and 2015.
The average level of total PFAS in fillets was 9,500 ng/kg, with an average of 11,800 ng/kg in fish from the Great Lakes.
Previous studies have linked even very low doses of PFAS in drinking water to suppressing the immune system, weakening the effectiveness of vaccines and increasing the risk of certain types of cancer.
Researchers believe that PFAS can also raise cholesterol, reproductive and developmental problems, and other health problems.
What chemicals are hidden in fresh water?
The study's authors say the most common chemical found was PFOS, or sulfonic acid, averaging about three out of four of all PFAS detections.
"These test results are breathtaking," said Scott Faber, EWG's senior vice president, "Eating one such fish is equivalent to drinking PFOS-contaminated water for a month."
Consuming freshwater fish contaminated with PFOS can cause a "significant" increase in blood levels of the chemical permanently, the researchers say.
Even occasional consumption of freshwater fish can raise PFOS levels in the body.
"The extent to which PFAS has contaminated fish is staggering," the researchers said.
health
Nutrition and diet
Preventive nutrition
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fish
salmon
