ORGANOCHLORINE RESIDUES IN FISH-OIL DIETARY-SUPPLEMENTS - COMPARISON WITH INDUSTRIAL GRADE OILS

The market for fish oils as dietary supplements is of global importanc e. Although it is widely recognised that lipophilic organic chemicals, particularly organochlorines, can accumulate in fish oils, dietary su pplements are not routinely considered when estimating average daily i ntakes for these contaminants. This paper reports levels of organochlo rine residues in 44 fish oils, collected from 15 countries between 199 4 and 1995, including 38 purchased over the counter as dietary supplem ents. Despite controls on the use of persistent organochlorine substan ces, appreciable quantities are found in oils sold as dietary suppleme nts. Levels are discussed in relation to the significance of fish oil dietary supplements as contributors to daily intake of PCBs and pestic ide residues. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.