A study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology shows that farmed salmon accumulates higher levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) a chemical flame retardant used in furniture and electrical equipment. Some types of flame retardants have been banned in Europe and California because of health concerns.
Flame retardants have been shown to cause developmental problems in laboratory animals and the levels of these chemicals found in human blood are on the rise. In September, EWG tested the breast milk of several American mothers and found high levels of flame retardants in every participant. EWG also found high levels of flame retardants in fish caught in the San Francisco Bay.
Flame retardants are similar to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), another toxic chemical contaminant found in high levels in farmed salmon.
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