--- title: Seafood Pollutants: How POPs Disrupt Human Defenses description: Human defense mechanisms could be disrupted by the presence of a class of organic pollutants in fish and other food canonical: https://time.com/4295990/pollutants-fish-humans/ author: Justin Worland article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-04-15T21:23:51.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T08:04:34.100Z article:section: Health og:title: Seafood Pollutants: How POPs Disrupt Human Defenses og:description: Human defense mechanisms could be disrupted by the presence of a class of organic pollutants in fish and other food og:url: https://time.com/4295990/pollutants-fish-humans/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: TIME og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Seafood Pollutants: How POPs Disrupt Human Defenses twitter:description: Human defense mechanisms could be disrupted by the presence of a class of organic pollutants in fish and other food twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- # Pollutants in Fish Could Disrupt Your Defenses to Toxins > Sponsored content. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ## Video: Should I Eat Salmon? [Watch (HLS stream): Should I Eat Salmon?](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/OIB4mfT2.m3u8) (1:55)  _Published 2015-08-26. This food from the sea is a no-brainer for all five of our experts._  by [Justin Worland](https://time.com/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Senior Correspondent Apr 15, 2016 9:23 PM UTC  by [Justin Worland](https://time.com/author/justin-worland/)  ## Justin Worland Senior Correspondent Apr 15, 2016 9:23 PM UTC Human defense mechanisms could be disrupted by the presence of a class of organic pollutants in fish and other food, according to new [research](http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/2/4/e1600001). The study, published in the journal _Science Advances,_ appears to be the first to identify the mechanism by which chemicals like flame retardants—present in many household furniture items, like sofas and mattresses—and the pesticide DDT block a key protein from removing toxins from the body. P-glycoprotein, the protein in question, defends against toxins that entered the body by transporting them for removal. The new research shows that [persistent organic pollutants](https://www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/persistent-organic-pollutants-global-issue-global-response), known as POPs, latch onto proteins and prevent them from functioning. “These environmental chemicals form intimate interactions,” says study author Amro Hamdoun of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. “But instead of being expelled, these proteins interfere with the ability of p-glycoprotein from doing its job.” Awareness about the risks of POPs is nothing new. Public health campaigners have sought to remove POPs from the environment for decades, and a [2001 treaty](http://chm.pops.int/default.aspx) even committed countries to take measures to reduce human exposure to the pollutants. But until now scientists did not understand exactly how the pollutant harmed humans. Researchers had previously thought that POPs simply slipped by the protein, like a sneaky patron might get past a bouncer in club, says Hamdoun. But the new study shows that the pollutants actually interact with the protein and make it less effective. The study also shows that POP can exist at risky levels in the environment. Some fish caught in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana were found to have levels of the pollutant to could lead to high levels of p-glycoprotein inhibitors. That finding could prevent humans who consume polluted fish from defending themselves against a variety of toxins, according to the study. And, while the study looked only at fish, Hamdoun says elevated levels of POPs could be present in meat and dairy. “This is something that scientists and policymakers will want to think about very carefully,” says Hamdoun. “It’s very important to make sure that those fish don’t end up in our food supply.” ## Transcript Should you eat salmon? This food from the sea is a no brainer for all five of our experts. [ MUSIC ] A three ounce serving of wild salmon has about 156 calories, plus 23 grams of protein and about 6 grams of healthy fat. Omega 3 fatty acids are salmon's claim to fame, providing anywhere between two to three grams per three ounce serving says Julia Renee Zumpano. Omega 3 fatty acids can help reduce blood triglycerides, blood pressure, and reduce swelling. Wild salmon is better than farmed says, Dr. David Katz. Farm salmon may contain more saturated fat, calories, pollutants, and antibiotics than wild salmon. Additionally, farm salmon might not provide as many omega- 3s says Peter D. Nichols. The long- chain omega- 3 content is about half of what it used to be in farm fish. Although this is still generally 10 to 100 fold higher than most other food groups, he says. Not all farm salmon is bad, though, says Tim Fitzgerald. Although most generic farm salmon, often labeled Atlantic in stores, still comes with a variety of environmental concerns. Salmon from fish farms shouldn't always be avoided. Sustainably farm salmon brands like Atlantic Sapphire, Kuterra, and Verlasso are some of Fitzgerald's favorites, but for the overall most sustainable bet choose wild Alaska Salmon says Kimberly Warner. It's more expensive but you can get an especially good deal during the summer salmon season, but don't forget not every fish worth eating comes on ice. Virtually all canned salmon is wild caught in Alaska, Fitzgerald says, so you can get all of the environmental and health benefits of fresh salmon for just a few dollars. 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