Archived press release

PCBs and Dioxins in cod liver oil

16 June 1997

Friends of the Earth is today demanding that the Government releases details of which brands of cod liver oil are most contaminated by cancer causing and hormone-disrupting PCBs and dioxins, following MAFF research that revealed dangerous levels of these contaminants in a range of fish liver oils [1].

The Government has set a safety threshold of 10 pg TEQ Dioxin per kg body weight per day. The MAFF research shows that school children and toddlers who are given cod liver oil will exceed this safety threshold, whilst adults taking it will push their exposure to the limit. Many scientists consider the Government's safety threshold is set far too high and lower levels of dioxins and PCBs are damaging to health [2].

MAFF analysed cod liver oils from brands including Boots, Seven Seas and Sanatogen, but refused to reveal which ones were most contaminated. Cod liver oil is sold as a food supplement, rich in vitamins A and D and long chain fatty acids.

Friends of the Earth are calling for:

* Full labelling of contaminant levels on the products and advice to consumers on the risks and potential benefits involved in taking them
* Immediate discussion between consumer groups, environmental groups and Government on how we can reduce levels of PCBs and dioxins in the environment to protect the safety of our food
* Government action at an international level to reduce the levels of cancer causing and hormone disrupting chemicals in the environment [3]

Dr Michael Warhurst of Friends of the Earth said:

"It is appalling that our seas are so contaminated that even the few remaining fish are loaded with so many chemicals that cod liver oil may now pose a long-term health risk. The Government must take action to eliminate the release of cancer causing and hormone disrupting chemicals."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] Food Surveillance Information Sheet 106, 'Dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls in fish oil dietary supplements and licensed medicines'. Full text available at:
http://www.maff.gov.uk/food/infsheet/1997/no106/106dioxi.htm
PCBs were manufactured for use in transformers and fire retardants, but the environmental persistence led to a phase out of all uses in the late 1980s. However, they are still present in electrical equipment in the UK and throughout the World. Dioxins are produced during burning of materials containing chlorine, such as PVC.

[2] 10 pg TEQ/kg/day is the current UK and World Health Organisation (WHO) tolerable daily intake. However, United States Environment Protection Agency scientists consider this level at least 100 times to high, and the WHO is currently reviewing it. The Government's Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals advises that exceeding the current guideline is "undesirable", but makes no recommendations to consumers. This is despite the fact that 5 years ago the Department of Health stated that exceedance of a limit 10 times lower (i.e. 1 pg TEQ/kg/day) should "trigger investigation and appropriate measures to reduce environmental levels generally" (see ENDS Report 268, May 1997 p14-15).

[3] Chemicals such as PCBs and Dioxins persist in the environment and spread across the globe. About one third of the PCBs ever produced are now in the environment, the other two-thirds are in electrical equipment etc. across the world. These PCBs, many of which are in the ex-Soviet Union and the Developing World, must be destroyed before they contaminate the environment. This will require substantial technical aid and resources. An international protocol on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as PCBs is currently being negotiated (see ENDS Report 268, May 1997 p43-45). Many other chemicals are known to be hormone disrupting, some present in common foodstuffs such as tin cans - for more information see:
http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~mwarhurst

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