Event Title

Seaweed: Superfood or Contaminated Product? Cross-Border Pilot Study on Salish Seaweed Contaminants

Presentation Abstract

Seaweeds are an excellent source of minerals, antioxidants and fiber. While historically consumed by indigenous people, today seaweeds are increasingly being harvested by both indigenous and recreational harvesters. The lack of recent data on contaminants in seaweeds, however, leaves consumers uninformed about potential harmful aspects of eating this otherwise nutritious seafood.

To increase our seafood safety knowledge with respect to seaweed, this study compares contaminant concentrations in seaweeds gathered from 21 indigenous food beaches (IFBs) and 20 historically contaminated beaches (HCBs) in the Salish Sea. IFBs are beaches on First Nation reserve lands, on Washington tribal lands, or in traditional territory with minimal history of upland industrial development and where seafood has been harvested or where First Nations/Washington tribes are interested in seaweed harvesting. HCBs include 7 sites that are NOAA Mussel Watch or WDFW Caged Mussel sites--where blue mussels (Mytilus spp.) are used to measure contaminants--with recent documented contamination; 13 additional BC or WA beaches with documented industrial contamination or in proximity to such places.

Nereocystis luetkeana and two species of genus Fucus (F. distichus and F. spiralis) were gathered in the spring and summer of 2015 during the common recreational seaweed harvest season. Samples of these commonly consumed brown seaweeds were collected widely throughout the Salish Sea. At each site, collections were made from three separate areas; these collections were then pooled to create a super-composite sample for the site.

Currently, 43 samples of F. distichus and F. spiralis are being analyzed for metals; dioxins and furans; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; and persistent organic pollutants. Eighteen super composite samples of N. leutkeana will also be analyzed for metals. We hypothesize that samples collected from IFBs will have lower contaminant levels than those collected from HCBs. Results will be discussed.

Session Title

General Food and Food Security Topics

Keywords

Keywords: seaweed, Fucus, Nereocystis, contaminants, metals, PAHs, dioxin, indigenous, Salish Sea, recreational harvest.

Conference Track

Food and Food Security

Conference Name

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)

Document Type

Event

Start Date

2016 12:00 AM

End Date

2016 12:00 AM

Location

2016SSEC

Type of Presentation

Oral

Genre/Form

conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)

Contributing Repository

Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.

Subjects – Topical (LCSH)

Marine algae--Effect of metals on--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Marine algae as food; Heavy metals--Absorption and adsorption; Heavy metals--Environmental aspects; Marine pollution

Geographic Coverage

Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)

Comments

Keywords: seaweed, Fucus, Nereocystis, contaminants, metals, PAHs, dioxin, indigenous, Salish Sea, recreational harvest.

Rights

This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.

Type

Text

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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COinS
 
Jan 1st, 12:00 AM Jan 1st, 12:00 AM

Seaweed: Superfood or Contaminated Product? Cross-Border Pilot Study on Salish Seaweed Contaminants

2016SSEC

Seaweeds are an excellent source of minerals, antioxidants and fiber. While historically consumed by indigenous people, today seaweeds are increasingly being harvested by both indigenous and recreational harvesters. The lack of recent data on contaminants in seaweeds, however, leaves consumers uninformed about potential harmful aspects of eating this otherwise nutritious seafood.

To increase our seafood safety knowledge with respect to seaweed, this study compares contaminant concentrations in seaweeds gathered from 21 indigenous food beaches (IFBs) and 20 historically contaminated beaches (HCBs) in the Salish Sea. IFBs are beaches on First Nation reserve lands, on Washington tribal lands, or in traditional territory with minimal history of upland industrial development and where seafood has been harvested or where First Nations/Washington tribes are interested in seaweed harvesting. HCBs include 7 sites that are NOAA Mussel Watch or WDFW Caged Mussel sites--where blue mussels (Mytilus spp.) are used to measure contaminants--with recent documented contamination; 13 additional BC or WA beaches with documented industrial contamination or in proximity to such places.

Nereocystis luetkeana and two species of genus Fucus (F. distichus and F. spiralis) were gathered in the spring and summer of 2015 during the common recreational seaweed harvest season. Samples of these commonly consumed brown seaweeds were collected widely throughout the Salish Sea. At each site, collections were made from three separate areas; these collections were then pooled to create a super-composite sample for the site.

Currently, 43 samples of F. distichus and F. spiralis are being analyzed for metals; dioxins and furans; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; and persistent organic pollutants. Eighteen super composite samples of N. leutkeana will also be analyzed for metals. We hypothesize that samples collected from IFBs will have lower contaminant levels than those collected from HCBs. Results will be discussed.