Posted on August, 13 2004

Gland, Switzerland - A peer-reviewed scientific study published this week (1) looking at contamination of wild and farmed salmon with the flame retardant Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE) has shown that this man-made chemical is contaminating human food supplies around the world. PDBE is used to make household materials such as textiles and plastics less flammable.

The study shows that farm-raised salmon have higher levels of PBDE than wild salmon. In addition, farm-raised salmon from Europe have higher PBDE levels than those raised in North America, and salmon fillets purchased from supermarkets in the EU were generally more contaminated than those bought in North America. Those bought in the UK were generally the most contaminated.

“This study, by respected scientists in a peer-reviewed journal, fits in with the pattern seen in a growing body of research showing that flame retardants are contaminating the globe," said Dr Richard Dixon, Head of Policy at WWF-Scotland. "This is particularly worrying since it is recognised that they are persistant and bio-accumulative — in other words, once they are in the body they tend to remain there and are not broken down.” 

WWF believes that contamination of food with PDBE is one explanation for this flame retardant being found in the blood of UK volunteers tested in their Chemical Check Up studies(2). 

An EU ban on two types of PBDE, penta-BDE and octa-BDE, comes into force on 15 August 2004. However, the EU recently decided to allow the continued use of a third type, deca-BDE, despite widespread human and environmental contamination and ongoing concerns that it is neurotoxic to developing fetuses.

"Although little is known about these chemicals, there are known toxicological effects under laboratory conditions — such as liver disruption, hormone disruption, and developmental effects. The UK Food Standards Agency has stated that it is not possible to establish a Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) due to the inadequacies of the data (3). So why are we running a global experiment?" said Dr Dixon.

The EU is currently considering introducing a new law called REACH  (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) which would bring tighter regulation of manmade chemicals. In its DetoX Campaign, WWF is calling for mandatory substitution of some categories of  chemicals, such as these flame retardants, with safer alternatives. However, massive industry lobbying has weakened the original European Commission proposals. 

"The REACH law gives us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to cut the contamination of our environment and protect ourselves and future generations," said Dr Dixon. "This is a challenge to the chemicals industry to work together with others to achieve safer food and a cleaner environment.”

Notes  
(1) Global Assessment of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Farmed and Wild Salmon, Hites et al Environment Science & Technology  August 2004    

(2) WWF's Chemical Check Up has shown that human volunteers in Europe are contaminated by a wide range of man-made chemicals. The aim of the study is to discover the level of contamination by man-made chemicals that do not break down in nature, build up in the bodies of wildlife and people, and are hormone disrupting (can interfere with the body’s hormone system and potentially cause developmental or reproductive defects). 

(3) FSA’s “Advice on fish consumption: benefits and risks” Thursday, 24 June 2004; Annex 4 COT statement on brominated flame retardants in fish from the
Skerne Tees rivers system: “In view of the inadequacies in the toxicological database and the absence of identifiable no-effect levels, it was not possible to determine a tolerable daily intake (TDI).”  

For further information:
Julian Scola
WWF DetoX Campaign
Tel: +32 2 743 8800