Fish Contaminants

Fish contaminants refer to a broad range of chemical and biological agents that may be present in some freshwater and marine fish and shellfish and can be potentially harmful to humans when consumed. These contaminants can be naturally occurring in the aquatic environment as a result of geological and biological processes or may have been introduced into the environment through a variety of anthropogenic sources, such as industrial activity, waste disposal and incineration, agriculture, and aquaculture. Contaminant concentrations in the ocean are typically low and even undetectable, but contaminants may enter the food chain and become highly concentrated in fish and shellfish that people eat. Contaminants can also enter the food chain postharvest, during the processing, distribution, storage, and preparation of seafood. The global nature ...