by Taetske | 2:27 pm
(Last Updated On: July 4, 2021)

 

Our modern-day habits are polluting the waters

 

Some time ago I wrote a post on the dangers of eating salmon from Puget Sound in Seattle. Scientists had found alarming amounts of unhealthy substances in fish meat. Substances like heroin, nicotine, Valium, and fungicides.

The reason for this is not really clear. Perhaps the wastewater treatment systems are not thorough enough, or perhaps there are leaks from septic tanks.

The fact is that these unhealthy substances do not only harm people when eating this fish; it is also harmful to the fish population as such. The far-reaching consequences are not understood. Time will tell if using all the unnatural things which end up in the water will cause grave damage to our future generations.

 

Mussels growing on the rocks

Mussels growing on the rocks image Silvia Tormo

 

Alarming news on the mussel

Just recently I heard that another water dweller, the mussel, also seems to be in trouble. The mussels are so good tasting; I love to order a dish of mussels on the coast of southern Spain. Here is a link to a great recipe you should try.

The problem with a mussel is that it is a filter feeder. This means their food is plankton and other tiny microscopic little sea creatures which float in the water. If the water is polluted it passes through their bodies and of course contaminates it.

They live together in sizeable groups stuck to the rocks, which are washed by the water. They do not have a tranquil life as they have a lot of enemies, starting with humans who come to collect them. Starfish and seabirds also like to eat them.

 

A delicious dish of mussels

A delicious dish of mussels image Paul NI

 

Aquaculture

In the 1970s, the aquaculture of mussels started in North America. In Washington State, in the year 2010, an estimated 2.9M pounds were harvested. Mussels are used to test if the aquatic environments are good or not.

Now comes this upsetting news that also mussels are showing signs of being attacked by man-made pollution. Again in the Seattle area, besides the salmon, it are now the mussels that have tested positive for medications including opioid prescription drugs.

The US is the country where most opioids are prescribed. They prescribe opioids 50% more than in Germany. The scientists had already found drugs, also illegal ones in mussels, but this is the first time they found opioids.

 

A very serious book

This is a copulation of studies on the toxicity of aluminum and acid waters on water life.

In 1992, the 17th Session of the European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission took place. There were already concerns for the well-being of water biota. It only got worse over the years as the environment got more polluted, putting in jeopardy fauna, flora, and humans.

 

 

Be informed about what you eat

Just imagine you order a dish of mussels and what you are actually eating is a dish full of anti-depressants, chemotherapy drugs, heart medication, and the list goes on. I wonder why we are doing this to ourselves. All these medications the modern human seems to need end up in the food we eat, and that again makes us take more medication because the food makes us sick.

This is absolutely crazy, don’t you think? Even if these medications were found in only a few of the test sites, it makes one think. They also found melphalan, which is a chemotherapy drug and a potential carcinogen in mussels. One can only wonder where this is leading us all.

Have a look at the following video on mussels cultivation.

 

 

Conclusion

In modern times they flood us with so-called health medicine. How can it be that when there is more health care the population is getting sicker? I personally think it is because we have turned away from nature. Man-made foods are standing on the shelves of the supermarkets. When you look at the labels, you cannot pronounce the words and neither does one know what they mean.

We are feeding ourselves with foods that do not have the required nutrients and wonder why we suffer so many ailments. There seems to be a pill for everything these days, but these pills have side effects which again harm us.

Mother Nature provides for all our needs and produces all the fruits and vegetables needed to be healthy. We should stop trying to improve it. It has not been a success up till now, and I think it will never be.

Recently I came across this disturbing and sad video. The future of the world looks awful, and it is our fault. I hope you will take the time to watch it.

 

 

I have made a special page for you with things that might be of your interest. Before you leave, have a look at Recommendations. I hope you will find something.

 

Source: Wikipedia and Vanessa Romo for NPR

Photo Source: Pixabay

 

This was the first post I wrote on this subject. Perhaps you find it interesting to read my post on salmon.

2 Important Health Updates on the Risks of Eating Salmon

Comments

Tommy Diependaal

wow very informative didn’t realize that even with mussels that they also are so polluted with poison from what mankind dump in the oceans.
I for sure love my seafood but will look with different eyes to my plate. Any advice on what kind of seafood is still pretty safe to eat?

Aug 07.2018 | 04:37 am

    Taetske

    Good afternoon Tommy,

    Thank you for visiting my website and leaving a comment. It is really very sad what we are doing to our food in general. GMO, pesticides , perservatives,  artificial flavour, plastics, and as we pollute also our seas the food we get from there is no good either. 

    I know one has to be careful with shrimps and swordfish. With salmon one should try to get the wild caught but also there one has to know from where the salmon comes from. In Norway and New Zealand there are places where there are net enclosed areas in fjords. The clean water flows freely and the salmon lives a controlled but also healthy life.

    If we eat something which is not so healthy if it is not too often I would not worry. Main thing you keep your immune system healthy so you can take it.

    Regards, Taetske 

    Aug 07.2018 | 02:35 pm

Daniel

I am so happy that I have read this topic because I am a big fan of mussels and sea food generally. It is very hard to know the quality of sea food because I order it by the phone and they deliver it on my address, I think that now I will pay more attention on these types of food. Thank you Taetske!

Nov 06.2018 | 03:51 pm

    Taetske

    Good evening Daniel,

    These times it is not so easy to know what foods are good for you or not. In old times one did not have to think about things like this. Humans started to meddle with nature and now we suffer the consequences, sad but true. 

    When you order these foods on the phone you could ask the company where it comes from. To be informed is a good start. You have the choice, after all, to order from them or not.

    Thank you for your comment. I hope to see you again.

    Regards, Taetske

    Nov 06.2018 | 07:58 pm

Jenny

It was shocking to read about the contamination in salmon and mussels.  We don’t even think about contamination when we eat supposedly healthy foods, thinking we’re doing good for our bodies but in fact, we’re doing more harm.  Is the answer to not eat salmon and mussels?  I think the first step is to reduce the drugs in the water otherwise we’re killing the fish and we’re killing ourselves!  Thank you for a very informative article. 

Nov 06.2018 | 03:53 pm

    Taetske

    Good evening Jenny,

    Thank you for leaving a comment on my website. I hope you downloaded your free PDF?

    I was also shocked when I found out about it. First the salmon and now the mussels. Your idea of cleaning up the water is a good one but it does mean that people have to be informed about this. Then one should change one’s habits and the authorities could also put their part. Perhaps it will function in the future but I think it will still take some time.

    Regards, Taetske

    Nov 06.2018 | 07:58 pm

Josh

Very interesting article. It’s scary to think that by eating food we are consuming other products it’s insane to think about.

Another point you made is that almost all of our food is packed nutrients that don’t help our health such as preservatives. That’s one of the reason I try to get any meat that our family eats directly from my dad (he has cattle).

Unfortunately even fruits and vegetables even have the preservatives in most cases. The only way to get natural product is by growing them yourself, or knowing someone…

Nov 06.2018 | 03:56 pm

    Taetske

    Good evening Josh,

    Thank you for your comment. I hope you have downloaded your free PDF?

    I really think that is the way to go, plant your own things so you know what you are eating. Or you go and buy organic. Here in Spain people start being more interesting to go organic and I think that is a positive trend.

    Regards, Taetske

    Nov 06.2018 | 07:58 pm

Mariem

thank you for sharing this informative post Taetske!

It’s very sad that due to pollution our sea food can not be safe to eat, we really need to be aware of what we eat and the best way to stay safe is to be informed about what we eat as you mentioned.

Nov 06.2018 | 03:57 pm

    Taetske

    Good evening Mariem,

    Yes, it is sad and also very stupid what we are doing. We pollute the water and then get sick when eating the fish so we run to the doctor to get pills which end up in the water.

    We also pollute the air, the soil, and the foods we eat. It is a miracle we are still alive.

    Thank you for leaving a comment on my website. I hope you downloaded your free PDF?

    Regards, Taetske

    Nov 06.2018 | 08:19 pm

Sylvia

Thank you for your detailed article on how polluted waters do have an impact on sea life and on our food chain.

I too have heard about this and just recently saw a documentary on this topic on Canadian TV. All three of our coast lines are under scrutiny and the Canadian Conservation Society is very concerned.

This is also a big concern for me and my husband, we both love seafood and we are not sure what else we can do at this point.

Eating farmed fish also has its huge concerns and are actually out of the equation. What are your thoughts on farmed fish? 

Nov 06.2018 | 04:06 pm

    Taetske

    Good evening Sylvia,

    I can imagine you and your husband are concerned about this type of news. I would stay away from farmed fish, it is the same as cows and chickens, they are kept in an unhealthy and unnatural environment. On top of it, they are fed “foods” to make them grow faster. Throw in hormones and other stuff and one has ruined the good quality this meat used to have, 

    I once saw a documentary on the Faroe Islands where salmon is kept in fjords with nets on both sides so they cannot escape but live in free-flowing clean waters. So there are places where fish are kept in a natural way. Even here in Spain, one can buy frozen salmon, fished in the Faroe Islands. 

    Thank you for leaving a comment. I hope you downloaded your free PDF?

    Regards, Taetskel 

    Nov 06.2018 | 08:19 pm

Carol

This is a nice site.  You have some interesting information.  Makes you not want to eat!!  It is so sad our world has become so filled with chemicals and drugs.  Not a surprise about the drugs in water.  How many people flush their used medications down the toilet?  The poor fish, drugged from our society.  I like the clean style of your site.  I am still building my site and trying to figure out how to make it similar to yours with the affiliate links on the side.  Speaking of links, I just signed up as an affiliate for brain wave shots.  Thanks for the review.

Nov 06.2018 | 04:14 pm

    Taetske

    Good evening Carol,

    Happy to hear you like my website and find the information good and helpful.

    I hope you have downloaded your free PDF? Website building is work but also fun and interesting. I do not know what brainwave shots are, would you explain that please?

    Thank you for your visit. I hope to see you again.

    Regards, Taetske

    Nov 06.2018 | 08:23 pm

Joe

A really interesting and informative article. I absolutely love my sea food especially mussels, but it is rather off-putting when you hear about the levels of contamination and substances which can be in fish meat like heroin!! That really shocked me. I think what your article highlights is a shift in attitude from humanity, (your video at the end shows a very bleak picture) and we all need to work together to stop polluting our waters else we will occur the same problems. 

Thank you for a very informative article. 

Joe 

Nov 16.2020 | 08:37 pm

    Taetske

    Good Morning Joe,

    I know that video at the end of my post is frightening. I have used it for more posts as I write about the environment.

    Time ago I heard the following story. People were getting sick, and the doctors did not understand why. Upon investigating the authorities found out these people were eating chicken from a certain area. They fed these chickens a product made with fish flour. These fish were living in contaminated water. Guess who was contaminating the water?

    Eventually we pay the price for our negligence and greed.

    Thank you for your visit and for your comment. I hope you downloaded your free PDF? Tulip widget.

    Regards, Taetske

    Nov 17.2020 | 08:17 am

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