June 5, 2008

Canadian scientists find farmed fish have lower mercury levels

A new study has found that Canadian farmed salmon contains less mercury than wild salmon caught in nearby waters, the seattlepi reported.

Published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, the study finds wild fish having three times the amount of mercury levels in farmed fish.

However, mercury levels in wild fish were below those that trigger health warnings.

Compared to other foodstuffs, total mercury was found to be slightly higher in wild or farmed salmon than in chicken, beef or pork but comparable to fruit, vegetables, honey and eggs.

Average dietary intake of mercury and trace metals from salmon is low (0.05 percent - 32 percent ) compared to meat, poultry, fruit, and vegetables (68 percent - 99 percent).

Salmon also showed a moderate surplus of selenium, which counteracts mercury toxicity.