The Food Standards Agency(FSA)has published the 2012 annual report on the monitoring of chemical contaminants in Scottish shellfish harvesting waters.According to the agency,the results are broadly consistent with the data generated in previous years.
The monitoring programme analysed 19 samples from the Highland,Argyll&Bute,Shetland Islands and Eilean Siar local authority areas.
Analysis was undertaken to detect the contaminants including heavy metals,dioxins,poly-chlorinated biphenyl(PCB)and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
The study results showed that in the case of dioxins and PCBs in particular,contaminant concentrations were all below the regulatory maximum levels and are unlikely to pose a risk to public health.
Similarly,the concentrations of these regulated heavy metals were below the set maximum limits:mercury,cadmium and lead.
The monitoring work was undertaken by the Food and Environment Research Agency on behalf of the FSA.
