JFS T: Toxicology and Chemical Food Safety

Persistent Organic Pollutants in Fish Oil

Supplements on the Canadian Market:
Polychlorinated Biphenyls and
Organochlorine Insecticides
DOROTHEA F.K. RAWN, K. BREAKELL, V. VERIGIN, H. NICOLIDAKIS, D. SIT, AND M. FEELEY

ABSTRACT: Fish and seal oil dietary supplements, marketed to be rich in omega-3 fatty acids, are frequently con-
sumed by Canadians. Samples of these supplements (n = 30) were collected in Vancouver, Canada, between 2005
and 2007. All oil supplements were analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine insecticides
(OCs) and each sample was found to contain detectable residues. The highest PCB and DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-di-
(4-chlorophenyl)ethane) concentrations (10400 ng/g and 3310 ng/g, respectively) were found in a shark oil sam-
ple while lowest levels were found in supplements prepared using mixed fish oils (anchovy, mackerel, and sardine)
(0.711 ng PCB/g and 0.189 ng DDT/g). Mean PCB concentrations in oil supplements were 34.5, 24.2, 25.1,
95.3, 12.0, 5260, 321, and 519 ng/g in unidentified fish, mixed fish containing no salmon, mixed fish with salmon,
salmon, vegetable with mixed fish, shark, menhaden (n = 1), and seal (n = 1), respectively. Maximum concentrations
of the other OCs were generally observed in the seal oil. The hexachlorinated PCB congeners were the dominant
contributors to PCB levels, while DDT was the greatest contributor to organochlorine levels. Intake estimates
were made using maximum dosages on manufacturers’ labels and results varied widely due to the large difference
in residue concentrations obtained. Average PCB and DDT intakes were calculated to be 736 ± 2840 ng/d and
304 ± 948 ng/d, respectively.
Keywords: contaminants, dietary supplements, organochlorine insecticides, persistent organic pollutants, poly-
chlorinated biphenyls

Introduction than those collected from the wild (Easton and others 2002; Hites

F ish consumption is associated with health benefits in part due

to the presence of the essential polyunsaturated fatty acids
(PUFAs), particularly the omega-3 fatty acids in fish, which cannot
be synthesized by mammals (Hamilton and others 2005). The other
essential lipids, omega-6 fatty acids, are found in fish tissue; how-
ever, they are also available through other foods (Hamilton and oth-
ers 2005). The intake of the omega-3 fatty acids in fish is associated
with improvement in vascular health and reduced risk of coronary
heart disease in humans (Storelli and others 2004; Covaci and oth-
ers 2007). Additionally, consumption of fish has been linked to both
a reduction in incidence of diabetes and symptoms of rheumatoid
arthritis (Storelli and others 2004). As a result of the health benefits,
Canadians continue to be encouraged to eat fish on a frequent basis
(for example, 2 fish servings weekly) (Health Canada 2007a).
Over the last decade, elevated levels of persistent organic pol-
lutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and
organochlorine insecticide (OC) compounds, have been reported
in fish products around the world, particularly in farmed fish rather
MS 20080599 Submitted 8/5/2008, Accepted 10/8/2008. Author Rawn is
with Food Research Div., Bureau of Chemical Safety and author Feeley is
with Chemical Health Hazard Assessment Div., Health Products and Food
Branch, Health Canada, Sir Frederick Banting Research Centre, 251 Sir
Frederick Banting Driveway, Tunney’s Pasture, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1A
Chemical Food Safety
and others 2004). In contrast to the PUFAs present in fish oils,
POPs have been associated with negative health implications in-
cluding immunotoxicity and carcinogenicity (Fernandez and oth-
ers 2004). Impacts to normal endocrine function and reproduction
also have been observed in fish and other wildlife, leading to con-
cerns regarding potential impacts to humans (Safe 2000; Safe 2004;
Sapozhnikova and others 2004). Public concern over potential neg-
ative health impacts due to contaminant exposure has resulted in
follow-up surveys and assessments to establish the level of risk as-
sociated with consumption of retail fish/seafood in Canada. The re-
sults of this study indicated that the levels of POPs in fish did not
pose a human health risk (Tittlemier and others 2004; Rawn and
others 2006; Health Canada 2007b).
Because the public remains interested in enjoying the health
benefits associated with the consumption of food rich in essential
fatty acids, individuals consume fish oil supplements to enhance
their health. PCBs and OC insecticides are lipophilic compounds
and, therefore, are anticipated to be present in fish oils. The prepa-
ration of fish oil supplements, however, does include the processing
of raw fish oils to remove specific contaminants including trace el-
ements, pigments, odors, oxidation products, and so on, and can
also result in a corresponding reduction in the POP levels (Hilbert
and others 1998). Reductions can range from 0% to 100% depend-
ing on the refinement step (Hilbert and others 1998). Compara-

0K9. Authors Breakell, Verigin, Nicolidakis, and Sit are with Food Direc- tive testing of different grades of fish oil, however, has shown that
torate, Western Region, 3155 Willington Green, Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5G
T: Toxicology &

4P2. Direct inquiries to author Rawn (E-mail: Thea Rawn@hc-sc.gc.ca).
T14 JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE—Vol. 74, Nr. 1, 2008
POP concentrations in fish oils vary widely and do not always cor-
respond to the marketing grade (Jacobs and others 1998).

C 2008 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as Represented by
the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
C 2008 Institute of Food Technologists
Journal compilation  R

doi: 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2008.01020.x
Further reproduction without permission is prohibited
PCB, OCs in fish oil dietary supplements . . .
POP concentrations in fish oils vary due to the type of fish used
in the oil preparations as well as the location from which the fish
were collected (Falandysz and others 1994; Jacobs and others 2004;
Akutsu and others 2006). For example, cod liver oils have elevated
POP levels relative to those measured in other fish oils or fish oils
mixed with vegetable oils (Jacobs and others 2004). Although POP
levels in biota are readily available in the literature, concentrations
in fish-based oils are not reported as frequently.
A wide variety of fish oils are available on the Canadian re-
tail market and can be consumed as part of an individual’s daily
health regimen. Individual supplements may contain oil from a sin-
gle fish, marine mammal (for example, seal), or a mixture of oils
from more than 1 type of fish. Additionally, some supplements con-
tain vegetable or grain oils combined with fish oil. This study was
developed to evaluate the concentrations of POPs in dietary
supplements containing fish-based oils marketed as sources of
omega-3 fatty acids, available in on the Canadian market. Sam-
ples were collected between 2005 and 2007, with the analyses com-
pleted in 2007.
Materials and Methods
Samples
Fish oil supplements were collected from pharmacies, health
food stores, Internet distributors, and large supermarkets in Van-
couver, Canada. The supplements selected included those that
were available locally, via small suppliers, in addition to those dis-
tributed across Canada to ensure collection of a wide range of
categories of these products. A total of 30 samples (Table 1) were
collected for analysis and included supplements containing oil
from individual species (for example, salmon, seal, or shark) or mix-
tures of oil from a variety of fish sources (for example, salmon,
anchovy, sardine, mackerel). Although oil type was identified on
sample containers in most cases, the geographical location from
which the fish, marine mammals, or vegetables were collected was
not available. Some supplements contained fish oil mixtures, but
species types were not identified (n = 3) and 2 samples were mixed
with unspecified vegetable oils.
Chemicals and materials
All solvents (acetone, cyclohexane, dichloromethane [DCM],
hexane, nonane, and toluene) used in sample and standard prepa-
ration were distilled in glass grade (Omnisolve, EM Science, Gibb-
stown, N.J., U.S.A.). Prior to use, glass wool and glassware were
rinsed with acetone and hexane. Florisil (60 to 100 mesh) (Fisher
Scientific, Hampton, N.H., U.S.A.) was activated at 300 ◦ C for 7 h
and silica gel (100 to 200 mesh) was supplied by Sigma-Aldrich
(Oakville, ON, Canada). Activated carbon (Carbopack C) was pur-
chased from Supelco (Oakville, ON, Canada), while celite was sup-
Table 1 --- Range of PCB concentrations [median] (ng/g) in oil supplements by type.
Type n Maximum recommended dosage (g)
No identification 3 3 to 6
Mixed (no salmon) 8 1.2 to 3
Mixed (including salmon) 6 3 to 6
Salmon 7 2 to 6
Vegetable and mixed 2 1.2 to 2.7
Shark 2 1.5
Menhaden 1 3
Seal 1 3
a
 of PCB 1, 3, 4/10, 6, 8, 19, 18, 15, 16, 54, 31, 28, 33, 22, 52, 49, 104, 44, 37, 41, 40, 74, 70, 66, 95, 155, 60, 84/90/101, 99, 119, 97, 87, 81, 85, 110, 77, 151,
135, 123, 149, 118, 114, 188, 153, 168, 105, 141, 137, 138, 158, 178, 129, 126, 187, 183, 167, 128, 174, 177, 202, 171, 156, 157, 201, 180, 193, 191, 200, 169,
170, 199, 203, 189, 208, 207, 194, 205, 206, 209.
b
Marker PCBs: 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180.
plied by Fisher Scientific. Glass wool, celite, silica, sodium sulfate,
and Florisil were all Soxhlet extracted for several hours with DCM
and subsequently heated overnight to 300 ◦ C prior to use. They
were stored in a desiccator until use. Trace pure grade anhydrous
sodium sulfate was purchased from Baker (Cheshire, U.K.), and
heated at 300 ◦ C for 18 h prior to use.
Analytical standards of both the native and 13 C analogues of the
PCBs and OC insecticides were purchased from Wellington Labora-
tories (Guelph, ON, Canada). All standards were prepared as mix-
tures in toluene or nonane.
Extraction and clean up
The oil from individual capsules of a given product were re-
moved from the capsules and combined. Subsamples of the oil
(0.5 g) were spiked with surrogate standards containing 35 13 C PCBs
(1, 3, 4, 8, 15, 19, 28, 52, 54, 70, 77, 81, 95, 101, 104, 105, 114, 118, 123,
126, 128, 138, 153, 155, 156, 157, 167, 169, 170, 180, 189, 202, 205,
208, 209) and 13 C analogues of all the OC compounds measured
(1,2,3,4 tetrachlorobenzene, pentachlorobenzene, α-HCH, β-HCH,
γ -HCH, hexachlorobenzene, oxychlordane, trans-chlordane, trans-
nonachlor, cis-nonachlor, p,p -DDE, p,p -DDT, and mirex) with the
exception of 1,2,3,5 tetrachlorobenzene, prior to extraction. The
subsample was diluted to 3 mL in a 15-mL centrifuge tube with
DCM.
The initial step in lipid removal was performed using an Agi-
lent high performance preparative gel permeation chromatogra-
phy (GPC) system (New Castle, Del., U.S.A.), consisting of an 1100
Series quaternary pump, autosampler, and a fraction collector. Two
Envirogel columns (150 × 19 mm and 300 × 19 mm) (Waters,
Milford, Mass., U.S.A.) were used in series and DCM as the mobile
phase with a flow rate of 5 mL/min. The GPC eluate was evaporated
to near dryness and was reconstituted in 1 mL hexane.
Following the GPC step, 10 mL disposable serological pipettes
plugged with glass wool were filled with 4 g silica gel that had been
treated with ACS grade sulphuric acid (75 g silica gel: 50 g H 2 SO 4 )
(EM Science) and topped with anhydrous sodium sulfate. Prior to
adding a sample to the column bed, 4 × 5 mL volumes of hexane
were used to condition the column. After the samples were quanti-
tatively transferred to the silica column, the sample flask was rinsed
with 3 × 5 mL volumes of hexane and added to the top of the
column. Individual columns were then eluted with 50 mL hexane
and the eluate was taken down to approximately 1 mL using rotary
evaporation.
Sample extracts were cleaned up further on 5 mL serological
pipettes filled with activated Florisil (1.5 g) and topped with sodium
sulfate. The columns were preconditioned with 2 × 5 mL DCM fol-
lowed by 2 × 5 mL hexane. Samples were quantitatively transferred
to the top of the column bed and washed onto the column with
4 × 1 mL hexane and the eluate discarded. The sample flasks were
PCBsa Marker PCBsb
5.84 to 40.9 [34.5] 2.57 to 18.9
0.711 to 37.9 [24.2] 0.227 to 14.4
19.3 to 26.5 [25.1] 8.88 to 12.3
36.1 to 170 [95.3] 12.7 to 54.8
7.70 to 16.3 [12.0] 3.30 to 7.63
81.0 to 10400 [5260] 38.6 to 5080
321 104
519 295
Chemical Food Safety
T: Toxicology &
Vol. 74, Nr. 1, 2008—JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE T15
 PCB, OCs in fish oil dietary supplements . . .
then rinsed 3 times with 4 mL DCM, which was then added to the
top of the column bed, and the eluate was collected in a 15-mL cen-
trifuge tube. This fraction, containing organochlorines and most
PCBs, was concentrated using gentle blowing with ultra-high pu-
rity nitrogen using 200 μL nonane as a keeper. These extracts were
reconstituted in approximately 1 mL hexane and cleaned up on a
2nd Florisil column as previously mentioned.
This fraction was then evaporated, as before, to 200 μL using
nonane as a keeper and then transferred to 700 μL autosampler
vials with 2 × 200 μL DCM and evaporated to near dryness, but the
extracts were never allowed to go to complete dryness. Finally, the
extracts were reconstituted in 25 μL of recovery standard contain-
ing 13 C PCB 9, 37, 79, 111, 162, 194, and 206.
Analysis
Both PCBs and OC compounds were analyzed using a Waters
Autospec Premier high-resolution mass spectrometer (Manchester,
U.K.) linked to an Agilent 6890 gas chromatograph (GC) (Palo Alto,
Calif., U.S.A.) equipped with a splitless injection system. The col-
umn used for the GC separation was a fused silica DB-5 60 m ×
0.25 mm × 0.25 μm (J & W Scientific, Folsom, Calif., U.S.A.) with a
1 m × 0.53 mm (J & W Scientific) retention gap. The injector tem-
perature was set to 300 ◦ C for all analyses, with a purge time of
1.5 min.
The initial oven temperature for the PCB analyses was 80 ◦ C and
held for 1.5 min, raised to 200 ◦ C at 30 ◦ C/min, followed by an in-
crease to 280 ◦ C at 5 ◦ C/min, and held for 3 min. The oven tem-
perature for the OC compounds was initially set to 80 ◦ C and held
for 1.5 min, raised at a rate of 30 ◦ C/min to 200 ◦ C, followed im-
mediately by a 2nd increase in temperature to 280 ◦ C at a rate of
5 ◦ C/min, which was maintained for 3 min before the final temper-
ature increase of 15 ◦ C/min to 300 ◦ C where it remained for 9 min,
which completed the analytical run.
The electron energy was set to 37 eV, with a photomultiplier volt-
age of 350 V. The trap current was 650 μA and both the source
and capillary line temperatures were maintained at 260 ◦ C. The
re-entrant temperature was 270 ◦ C and perfluorokerosene-H (PFK)
was used as the reference substance for tuning at 393 m/z. The mass
resolution was set to 10000 for all analyses.
Quality assurance
The recovery of the 13 C surrogate analogues was determined
for each sample and the average recovery of surrogate standards
ranged from 22% for PCB 209 to 92% for PCB 189. In addition to 13 C
PCB 209, 13 C PCB 155 had average recoveries of <50% (42%). Aver-
age recoveries for the OC surrogates ranged from 30% to 102% for
mirex and p,p -DDT, respectively. The average recoveries of the 13 C
analogues of both 1,2,3,4 tetrachlorobenzene and pentachloroben-
zene were low (40% and 45%, respectively). Analytes were corrected
for surrogate recoveries.
A reagent blank and cod liver oil certified reference mate-
rial (Natl. Inst. for Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Md.,
U.S.A.) was processed and analyzed with each set of samples pre-
pared for PCB and OC analysis. Because PCB and OC concentra-
tions in blank samples were very low relative to oil supplement
samples, concentrations were not corrected for the level in blank
samples. Analytes were present in the acceptable range based on
certified concentrations.
The method detection limits (MDL) were established based on
a 3:1 signal to baseline noise ratio and are reported as averages of
Chemical Food Safety
individual chromatograms, ranging from 1.39 to 8.61 pg/g and 2.52
T: Toxicology &
to 9.28 pg/g for PCBs (104 and 40) and OC insecticides (HCB and
p,p -DDT) analyzed in this study, respectively.
T16 JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE—Vol. 74, Nr. 1, 2008
The oil supplements tested in this study were found to have
100% lipid and, therefore, whole or wet weight was considered
equivalent to lipid weight for these samples.
Mean, median, and standard deviation values were calculated
using Microsoft Excel (2002; Redmond, Wash., U.S.A.). Correlations
were determined using the Mann–Whitney Rank Sum Test with
SigmaStat for Windows version 3.11 (2004; San Jose, Calif., U.S.A.).
Results and Discussion
Concentrations
PCBs and OC insecticides were detected in all supplement sam-
ples collected. Lowest PCB concentrations (0.711 ng/g) were ob-
served in a supplement that was comprised more than 1 fish oil
but had no salmon or vegetable content. In contrast, the highest
PCB levels (10400 ng/g) were observed in a supplement identi-
fied as containing shark oil (Figure 1). Although this 1 shark sample
had PCB concentrations exceeding 10000 ng/g, total PCBs in the
2nd shark oil supplement tested was 81 ng/g. The PCB concen-
tration observed in the 2nd sample more closely reflects the results
reported by other researchers where PCBs in shark liver oils ranged
in concentration from 16 to 340 ng/g (Akutsu and others 2006).
The production differences in the 2 shark samples are expected to
be minimal because they were marketed by the same company. The
2 samples, however, were from different lots and, therefore, are ex-
pected to have been prepared using different sharks. Differences in
shark species, gender, geographical region, and season of collection
contribute to a wide variability in POP levels.
In a limited sample (n = 6) of fish oil supplements available
on the Swiss market, total PCBs (reported as PCB congeners 28,
52, 101, 138, 153, and 180) ranged from 0.23 to 17 ng/g (Zennegg
and Schmid 2006). In comparison, the sum of marker PCB con-
geners (PCB 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180) from the present sur-
vey of fish oil containing supplements, exclusive of the menhaden,
seal, and shark oils, ranged from 0.227 to 54.8 ng/g, while results
from a survey of fish oil supplements collected in the United King-
dom (n = 33) reported marker PCB concentrations of only 0.008 to
0.267 ng/g (mean value 0.098 ng/g) (Fernandes and others 2006).
Shim and others (2003) reported mean total PCB concentrations in
26 oil supplement samples, 24 containing fish oils and 2 comprising
algae oils, with concentrations ranging from below detection lim-
its to 276 ng/g. Although the present study resulted in detectable
levels of PCBs in all samples, no algae or pure vegetable-based
supplement samples were tested, limiting the comparison. PCB
concentrations in the fish oil supplements in the present study,
however, were found to be similar to those reported by Shim and
others (2003) (Table 1).
Maximum OC concentrations frequently were observed in the
single seal oil supplement analyzed relative to most other oil types
tested. The shark oil sample that had very high PCB concentrations,
however, also had the highest concentration of DDT (sum of p,p
DDT and p,p -DDE) (3310 ng/g) and mirex (10 ng/g) of all supple-
ments. Although residue data in seal tissue are available in the sci-
entific literature (Schantz and others 1993; Tanabe and others 1994;
Vorkamp and others 2008), data in seal oil supplements are scarce.
Median PCB concentrations, determined by oil type ranged
from 12 ng/g in vegetable and mixed fish oils to 5260 ng/g in
shark oils. With the exception of the menhaden, seal, and shark
oil supplements, all median PCB concentrations were below
100 ng/g (Table 1). Owing to the limited number of samples from
these supplement categories, the data observed in this study may
not accurately reflect the concentrations in oils of this type in
general.
PCB, OCs in fish oil dietary supplements . . .
Levels of PCBs in salmon oil supplements ranged from 36.1 to
170 ng/g (Table 1) where 3 or approximately half of the samples
tested had concentrations exceeding 100 ng/g. PCB concentrations
observed in supplements prepared using salmon oil were consis-
tent with the levels reported in salmon tissue samples from the
Canadian market in 2002 (Rawn and others 2006). PCB concen-
trations in the salmon oils from the present study are lower than
reported in a pharmaceutical grade salmon oil collected from the
United Kingdom (Jacobs and others 1998). Marker PCBs were de-
tected in salmon oils in the present study and ranged from 12.7
to 54.8 ng/g, which contrasts with the salmon oil originating from
Norway/the United States reported by Jacobs and others (2004),
where PCBs were below detection limits.
Reported marker PCBs (92 ng/g) in a menhaden fish oil sup-
plement tested (Santillo 2007) were similar to the concentration
observed in the present study (104 ng/g). The menhaden oil
supplement tested in the present study had residues greater than
those obtained in supplements containing anchovy, mackerel, sar-
dine, and salmon oils, however, the maximum concentrations were
observed in seal and shark supplements. Only the PCB concen-
trations in the menhaden, seal, and 1 shark oil sample would ex-
ceed the U.S. Council for Responsible Nutrition’s recommended
PCB standard for supplements containing fish oil (90 ng/g) based
on marker PCB concentrations (Council for Responsible Nutrition
2006).
Similar to PCBs, OC levels in oil supplement samples varied
widely between supplement types. Although individual contribu-
tors to HCH (for example, α-HCH, γ -HCH) and chlordane (for
example, oxychlordane) were below detection limits in a few sam-
ples, only 1 mixed fish oil sample, with no salmon content, was
found to have nondetectable residues of HCH (Table 2). Mirex
also was below method detection limits in this sample, but was de-
tected in all other samples tested in the present study. The shark
oil sample found to have very high PCB residues was also found
to have extremely high levels of DDE although the maximum con-
centration of most OC insecticides were observed in the seal oil
analyzed (Table 2). The supplements containing seal, shark, and
salmon oils had elevated levels of OC compounds relative to those
containing other fish and vegetable oils (Table 2).
Trends
In general, the hexachlorinated congeners contributed the great-
est extent to total PCB levels, followed by the pentachlorinated and
heptachlorinated congeners (Figure 2). Although the concentra-
tions were high in shark oil, the congener profile in these samples
was consistent with other oil types. Jacobs and others (2004) also
found the hexachlorinated congeners to be the dominant contrib-
utors to total PCB levels in fish oil supplements.
In contrast to the observations of Jacobs and others (2002),
β-HCH was the predominant HCH isomer (mean ratio β-
HCH:HCH = 0.643 ± 0.267) in the oil supplements in the present
study. DDE was the predominant contributor to total DDT in both
the present study and the study reported by Jacobs and others
(2002). The DDE:DDT ratio was determined to be 0.866 ± 0.145
in the present study.
A strong correlation between PCB and DDT concentrations
in these supplement samples was found to occur (r 2 = 0.988), how-
ever, this was not the case for the other OC compounds. Jacobs
and others (2004) similarly found a correlation between PCB and
DDT concentrations in oil supplements. Although a weak cor-
relation between total chlordane levels and PCBs was observed
(r 2 = 0.223), the correlations between PCB concentrations and
the other OC compounds analyzed were not found to be significant,
with r 2 values < 0.07.
Owing to the limited number of supplements containing simi-
lar types of oil in the present study, direct comparisons between
Figure 1 --- Total PCB concentrations
in oil supplement samples grouped
by oil type (veg = vegetable).
Chemical Food Safety
T: Toxicology &
Vol. 74, Nr. 1, 2008—JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE T17
 PCB, OCs in fish oil dietary supplements . . .

the levels of PCBs and OC insecticides in 1 supplement type
relative to another were not possible. PCB and OC concentrations
in salmon oil (n = 6) supplements, however, were compared to
the levels observed in all mixed fish oil supplements, where sam-
ples containing any mixtures of anchovy, mackerel, sardine, veg-
etable, and salmon oil were included in the category (n = 16) for
these comparisons. PCB and OC insecticide levels were statistically
significantly lower in mixed fish oils relative to salmon oils (PCB
P < 0.001, HCB, mirex, chlorobenzenes, HCH, chlordanes, DDT;
P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P = 0.035)
in the present study.
Intakes
Daily intake estimates were calculated by multiplying the con-
centration of contaminant in each supplement with the maximum
recommended daily dosage following label directions. Total PCB in-
takes ranged between 0.896 ng/d (0.285 ng/d marker PCBs) and
15700 ng/d (7620 ng/d marker PCBs), in a supplement contain-
ing anchovy, mackerel, and sardines and a shark oil supplement,
respectively. The seal oil supplement resulted in the next highest
intake estimate (1560 ng/d). In comparison, consumption of a sin-
gle 150 g meal of farmed salmon with an average PCB concentra-
tion of 17.5 ng/g would result in exposure to 2630 ng PCBs. Of the
OC insecticide related compounds, the highest mean intake was
estimated for DDT (304 ng/d) and mirex intake was calculated
to be the lowest (1.58 ng/d) (Table 3). The intake estimates deter-
mined in the present study generally are quite similar to those re-
ported in cod liver oil supplements (Storelli and others 2004). Total
PCB intakes reported by Storelli and others (2004) ranged from 4 to
2000 ng/d in individual cod liver oils, while DDT intakes ranged
from 4 to 1240 ng/d. Mean intakes determined in the present
study are within the values reported by Storelli and others (2004)
(Table 3).
Conclusions
C onsumption of shark, seal, and menhaden oil supplements
would contribute more to PCB intake than other oil types,
based on the results of this study. Seal oil consumption, however,
would result in increased exposure to most OC insecticides an-
alyzed, with the exception of DDT and mirex. The mixed fish
oils tested in the present study had lower PCB and OC insecticide
levels than other oil types. Although a limited number of

Table 2 --- Range of organochlorine concentrations [median] (ng/g) in oil supplements by type.
Category CBza HCHb HCB Chlordanec DDTd Mirex
No identification 0.062 to 0.081 0.011 to 0.571 0.023 to 1.07 0.042 to 2.43 0.301 to 13.5 0.052 to 0.092
[0.067] [0.065] [0.088] [0.252] [4.23] [0.066]
Mixed (no salmon) 0.021 to 0.103 ND to 0.839 0.021 to 0.628 0.011 to 0.654 0.189 to 15.2 ND to 0.044
[0.030] [0.396] [0.217] [0.342] [10.6] [0.024]
Mixed (including salmon) 0.037 to 0.796 0.752 to 1.77 0.361 to 2.71 0.500 to 2.29 9.31 to 24.9 0.020 to 0.511
[0.047] [0.836] [0.597] [0.636] [11.1] [0.042]
Salmon 0.177 to 2.83 1.37 to 36.9 1.55 to 21.9 3.51 to 84.7 4.76 to 250 0.099 to 3.53
[2.19] [29.7] [15.3] [22.9] [59.2] [0.618]
Vegetable and mixed 0.106 to 0.307 0.448 to 1.57 0.174 to 1.22 0.224 to 0.958 3.71 to 5.63 0.029 to 0.069
[0.206] [1.01] [0.697] [0.591] [4.67] [0.049]
Shark 0.058 to 0.180 0.052 to 0.101 2.52 to 3.40 5.92 to 121 309 to 3310 3.40 to 10.0
[0.119] [0.077] [2.96] [63.4] [1810] [6.72]
Menhaden 0.028 0.153 0.054 9.14 28.9 0.309
Seal 9.84 79.0 52.1 211 267 1.27
a
of 1,2,3,4 tetrachlorobenzene, 1,2,3,5 tetrachlorobenzene, and pentachlorobenzene.
b
of α-HCH, β-HCH, and γ -HCH.
c
of oxychlordane, trans-chlordane, trans-nonachlor, and cis-nonachlor.
d
 of p,p -DDT and p,p -DDE.

Figure 2 --- Relative contribution of

each homologue group to total PCBs
by oil type (veg = vegetable).
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PCB, OCs in fish oil dietary supplements . . .

Table 3 --- Intake estimates following maximum suggested Health Canada. 2007b. Fish and Seafood Survey 2002. Updated 26 March
dosage and contaminant concentration (ng/d). 2007 [Internet]. Available from: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/chem-
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Compound Range Average ± SD Hilbert G, Lillemark L, Balchen S, Højskov S. 1998. Reduction of organochlorine con-
taminants from fish oil during refining. Chemosphere 37(7):1241–52.
PCB 0.896 to 15,600 736 ± 2840 Hites RA, Foran JA, Carpenter DO, Hamilton MC, Knuth BA, Schwger SJ. 2004. Global
Marker PCB 0.285 to 7620 345 ± 1380 assessment of organic contaminants in farmed salmon. Science 303(5655):226–9.
DDT 0.265 to 4970 304 ± 948 Jacobs MN, Santillo D, Johnston PA, Wyatt CL, French MC. 1998. Organochlorine
residues in fish oil dietary supplements: comparison with industrial grade oils.
HCH ND to 237 22.9 ± 55.4 Chemosphere 37(9–12):1709–21.
Chlordane 0.022 to 634 45.0 ± 123 Jacobs MN, Covaci A, Schepens P. 2002. Investigation of selected persistent organic
CBz 0.027 to 29.5 2.36 ± 5.74 pollutants in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), salmon aquaculture feed, and
HCB 0.030 to 156 14.6 ± 33.0 fish oil components of the feed. Environ Sci Technol 36(13):2797–805.
Mirex ND to 15.0 1.58 ± 3.14 Jacobs MN, Covaci A, Gheoghe A, Schepens P. 2004. Time trend investigation of PCBs,
PBDEs, and organochlorine pesticides in selected n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid
rich dietary fish oil and vegetable oil supplements; nutritional relevance for human
essential n-3 fatty acid. J Agric Food Chem 52(6):1780–8.
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