A survey of metals in tissues of farmed Atlantic and wild Pacific salmon

Environ Toxicol Chem. 2004 Sep;23(9):2108-10. doi: 10.1897/04-72.

Abstract

Contamination of fish tissues with organic and inorganic contaminants has been a pervasive environmental and public health problem. The present study reports the concentrations of nine metals in tissues of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and two species of wild-caught salmon (chum [Oncorhynchus keta] and coho [O. kisutch]) analyzed as part of a global survey of contaminants in these fish. Of the nine metals, organic arsenic was significantly higher in farmed than in wild salmon, whereas cobalt, copper, and cadmium were significantly higher in wild salmon. None of the contaminants exceeded federal standards or guidance levels.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aquaculture
  • Environmental Monitoring / standards*
  • Food Contamination*
  • Metals / analysis*
  • Oncorhynchus keta*
  • Oncorhynchus kisutch*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Salmo salar*
  • Seafood / analysis*
  • United States
  • United States Environmental Protection Agency / standards
  • United States Food and Drug Administration / standards
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*

Substances

  • Metals
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical