PCBs delivered fresh, daily

A 2010 study from the University of Texas School of Public Health revealed that many persistant organic pollutants  (POPs) are present in typical supermarket foods despite being banned. Among them were PFCs, PCBs, and other pesticides. The results showed that the majority of these 31 supermarket items tested contained some combination of these chemicals, including 6 of 7 types of PCBs that were found in salmon and sardines. So how is it that a food tainted with a known carcinogen is permitted to be sold in supermarkets? First of all, the levels of PCBs measured (33 ng/day) were below the total daily intake reference dose set by the EPA, which means that this is an acceptable level of pesticides to be sold in stores. This raises a philosophical question: What amount of pesticides is acceptable? While everyone has their own opinion on the matter, I’d like to cite Rachel Carson on the matter:

“Why should we tolerate a diet of weak poisons, a home in insipid surroundings, a circle of acquaintances who are not quite our enemies, the noise of motors with just enough relief to prevent insanity? Who would want to live in a world which is just not quite fatal?” 

Carson raises an interesting point. When presented with the option to ingest these known carcinogens or not in any quantities, isn’t choice an easy one? While the PCB concentrations are below EPA standards, that says nothing about possible synergistic interactions between PCBs and other chemicals, which the University of Texas study points out has not yet been researched. Granted, pesticide levels may be low on the list of issues regarding the American diet. However, it begs the question about why we’re so accepting of low levels of poison in our food.