Now It's SEAFOOD from China That's Suspect

May 18, 2007

[unknowncountry.com]

First, it was cat and dog food from China laced with an industrial

byproduct called melamine that shut down the kidneys of affected pets.

Then melamine was found in hog and chicken feed, and in the meat of

these animals intended for human consumption.

Melamine was being used by Chinese processors because it mimics protein

additives but--given that it's a waste product obtained from coal

slag--is much cheaper. And never mind what happens to the poor consumer.

NOW seafood being shipped from China is being found to contain far

higher levels of pesticides than are considered safe for human

consumption. So when you see those shrimps at Wal-Mart or Trader Joe's

for a great price, find out where they're from before buying. If it's

China, consider passing them by.

A new study reported in the Journal of Environmental Toxicity and

Chemistry analyzed shrimps, crabs, and mollusks caught off Guangdon

province. They were analyzed for 21 organochlorine pesticides. Of those,

DDT and HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane) were detected most frequently and

measured at the highest concentrations. These highest concentrations

were observed in mollusks, specifically oysters, mussels, and squid.

Concentrations of DDT in some of this seafood were high enough to pose

human health threats. Other organochlorine pesticides present were at

concentrations high enough to pose human cancer risks.

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