7 Toxic Seafood Chemicals That You Don't Know About (PHOTOS)

Since the smell test doesn't really cut it, we decided to investigate the chemicals in seafood that you might not know about. We all know that mercury is often found in fish and are careful about our mercury consumption but did you know about the presence of pesticides, flame retardants or arsenic in the world's seafood?

2.6 billion people obtain 20 percent of their animal protein from eating seafood. Contaminants leak into the world's water supplies from industrial and municipal waste, storm water runoff and even agricultural practices causing serious environmental, animal and human health issues. Check out our slideshow of seven toxic chemicals in fish that you don't know about. As always, we want to hear from you in the comments.

1 of 7

PBDEs: Flame Retardants

1 of 8

First Slide

Previous Slide

@

PBDEs, a common flame retardant, have been detected in various fish across the West Coast in the United States. A 2006 report from the Environmental Working Group uncovered the flame retardant in Washington rivers and lakes. From 1997 to 2003, levels of PBDEs (prolybrominated diphenyl ethers) doubled in San Francisco Bay fish, such as striped bass and halibut. PBDEs are often used in electronics, furniture, carpets and textiles. The chemicals are traceable in rivers, estuaries, oceans, house dust and water.

Storm Clouds

Awesome Animal Photos Of 2013

Extreme Weather 6/16/13

Photos Of Bears

Whales In Action

The Best Animal Dads

PBDEs, a common flame retardant, have been detected in various fish across the West Coast in the United States. A 2006 report from the Environmental Working Group uncovered the flame retardant in Washington rivers and lakes. From 1997 to 2003, levels of PBDEs (prolybrominated diphenyl ethers) doubled in San Francisco Bay fish, such as striped bass and halibut. PBDEs are often used in electronics, furniture, carpets and textiles. The chemicals are traceable in rivers, estuaries, oceans, house dust and water.

comments(146)

featured comment

Reply | Share

runner 08 said on 9 Monday 2010 pm31 12:49 pm: Excellent, timely article/slide-show! I used to enjoy seafood (my holdout "meat", since ethically and health-wise I have an aversion to factory farm products), but I can't bring myself to buy it, now. It's not just teh over-fishing and depletion of integral elements of the ocean's ecosystem, but also the sense that I'd be swallowing a fish- or lobsetr-flavored cocktail of toxic chemical(s). When you read about the effects of some of these chemicals (mercury, for instance) on cognitive function, the old zombie movies don't seem quite so far fetched, after all.

Total comments: 146 | Post a Comment

1 of 8

Rate This Slide

Rank #2  |  Average: 4

pretty scary terrifying!

• 
  1
• 
  2
• 
  3
• 
  4
• 
  5
• 
  6
• 
  7
• 
  8
• 
  9
• 
  10

Chemicals In Your Fish That You Don't Know About

loading...

Chemicals In Your Fish That You Don't Know About

UserName

 | Become a fan

Picked These as the Top 5 Slides in the Slideshow

loading...

Top User Slides

← Prev|Next →

 | Become a fan

Picked These as the Top 5 Slides in the Slideshow

loading...

Users who voted on this slide

← Prev|Next →

loading...

More:
Find the right meal for you with the Environmental Defense Fund's Seafood Selector or use the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Guide.

The EDF and the Monterey Bay Aquarium even boasts sustainable seafood recipes from famous chefs.

Evaluate the seafood in your next meal before you order by using the Blue Ocean FishPhone app or texting option.

Comments

[tribilin219]

04:28 PM on 08/11/2010

I don't think I'll be eating fish for the rest of my life, I for one think it's to late to do anything about it? As long as these people get away with it there will be no change! Good luck people and you can have any fish I was going to eat.

[No1 ILoveLucyFan]

03:04 PM on 08/11/2010

Only 7??

[Tracey Hopkins]

11:00 AM on 08/11/2010

All the more reason to become vegan

[Red Crow]

10:44 PM on 08/10/2010

"Only when the last tree has withered, the last fish has been caught, and the last river has been poisoned, will you realize you cannot eat money." — Cree Proverb

[joedee1969]

09:27 PM on 08/10/2010

People are on to what BP did to the Seafood!

http://americaspeaksink.com/2010/08/bp-oil-spill-cancerous-crabs-poisoned-food-chain/comment-page-1/#comment-12521

[samilli3]

08:38 PM on 08/10/2010

so what are we suppose to eat now? Air-burgers?

[Kassandra]

08:38 PM on 08/10/2010

I stopped eating fish several years ago...at all. I used to love Tilapia, until I found out what Chinese fish farms fed them.

[ilovesushi]

04:38 PM on 08/10/2010

This world is too sad.

[organicconnect]

01:04 PM on 08/10/2010

We are creating a chemical legacy for our children that is being passed on to them right this minute. There is a scarily compelling video out from the Environmental Working Group detailing 287 toxins found in the blood of 10 average Americans, before they were even born: http://organicconnectmag.com/wp/2010/08/body-toxins-and-our-children/

[PatricefromNH]

11:57 AM on 08/10/2010

Is there ANYTHING healthy we can eat?? We're told to cut back on cancer causing meat and increase our consumption of fish..oh wait..bad idea. Why don't we just stop eating!!! AARGH!!

[TheFoodFreak]

12:39 PM on 08/10/2010

Its really unbelievable! Stick to farmers markets and trusted fish markets and local butchers that can help you make better purchasing decisions.

[PatricefromNH]

03:57 PM on 08/10/2010

Thank you, actually I do that already plus grow my own organic veggies, however I need a substantial amount of protein to maintain decent muscular tone. I'm not a big fan of meat, I'm not a tofu kinda person and I can only eat so many eggs and cottage cheese. I really depended on fish to satisfy the flavor, texture and variety I yearn for...thus my frustration.

[aligatorhardt]

10:30 PM on 08/09/2010

People of the world need to take a stand against the constant poisoning of our waters. We need tougher laws against pollution and a drive toward finding non poisonous substitutes.

[TheFoodFreak]

12:18 PM on 08/10/2010

Sadly, people need to start taking a stand against most issues regarding food and our environment these days...Factory Farming, Genetic Modification, Monopolistic Agri-business practices, water pollution, over-fishing...it all sucks. This article, as good and informative as it is, just makes life harder. I just posted an entry on my blog like 3 days ago about tips for buying fish along with the Monterery Bay Seafood Watch guide (www.thefoodfreak.com if you'd like to see) and this article just adds another layer of complications when choosing fish, making it basically impossible to be smart when seafood shopping.

[norkas]

07:41 PM on 08/09/2010

If you want to see the effects of the toxic seafood please view the Barn Animal family my brother married into.

There is GOAT FACE , MULE FACE , MOOSE FACE and the others are from the ANIMAL KINGDOM.

[VeryGrood]

12:37 PM on 08/10/2010

I believe that is called in-breeding. And you shouldn't talk about your cousin-sister-in-law like that.

[ksjprod]

07:22 PM on 08/09/2010

This article brought to you by the Beef and Poultry industry.

[wietorgrn]

07:18 PM on 08/09/2010

I hear Red Lobster's going to have a special Gulf Seafry Hoe-down - only $39.95!

[specultr]

07:32 PM on 08/09/2010

They'll deep fry the seafood in its natural juices, west Texas intermediate crude.

[unami]

06:44 PM on 08/09/2010

DDT is still used by the tons in Third World Countries. Pollution in China is Epidemic, I would not eat ANY food exported from China. The earth will stage a massive self-corrective measure within the next 100 years and humanity will die out and the earth will cleanse itself of our presence.

[David Durbin]

08:02 PM on 08/20/2010

'fraid you're right. Unless a whole lot of people all around the world rise up and revolt against the entrenched polluting interests - and become willing at the same time to forgo wasteful lifestyles - the future is grim for all highly developed lifeforms, we humans no exception.