Flame retardants in the environment

This week some media have reported the discovery of traces of industrial substances in brown trout in Lochnagar on the Queen's Balmoral estate. These substances, PBDEs, have been found everywhere, including foods like butter, potatoes, pasta, meat, fish and milk.
(http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc.mhtml?i=97&s=pbde)

Although European limits for these substances are currently being developed, Scottish Quality Salmon, whose members include feed suppliers, has already taken steps to maximise levels of beneficial Omega-3 essential fatty acids and minimise the chance of these environmental contaminants occurring by a variety of techniques including:
• the sourcing of the highest quality raw materials - fish meal and fish oils used in the feedstuffs - from areas least affected
• investing in additional processing technology to further reduce levels
• examining the potential benefits of incorporating different types of high quality plant-derived oil
• an ongoing testing regime to verify successful progress.

Consumers can continue to enjoy Scottish farmed salmon and benefit from the many positive health effects of salmon's Omega-3 essential fatty acids. For example, an Oxford University study has shown that children given Omega-3 showed better concentration and behaviour and were less anxious.

PBDEs are used as flame retardants in soft furnishing, mobile telephones, children's pyjamas and can be absorbed by breathing in dust from sofas, cushions, padded mattresses and even computers. Recent Swedish research has found that PBDEs were present in the blood of office workers who use computers, and also in hospital cleaners and workers at an electronics dismantling plant. The highest levels were in the latter, demonstrating the role of electrical goods in the contamination. http://ehpnet1.niehs.nih.gov/docs/1999/107p643-648sjodin/abstract.html

This is a general environmental issue that clearly needs to be addressed. A scientific briefing on PBDEs and Persistent Organic Pollutants is available on our website www.scottishsalmon.co.uk as well as Fish Facts, containing extracts of scientific papers on the nutritional benefits of Omega-3 essential fatty acids.

Ends

Issued by Julie Edgar, Scottish Quality Salmon
Tel: 01738 587010
8 th April 2004

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