FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Black-gilled fish at market pass safety test after Rayong oil spill

Black-gilled fish at market pass safety test after Rayong oil spill

Tests on fish from a Rayong market found with a black substance clogging their gills did not reveal unsafe levels of carcinogenic crude-oil compounds, according to health officials.

Rayong Fisheries Research and Development Centre was alerted on Wednesday that fish with black plaque on their gills were on sale at Rayong’s Pak Nam Market. Department officials sent samples of the tainted fish to the Department of Medical Sciences for tests to discover whether they were contaminated after two recent oil spills off Rayong.

The department’s lab analysed the fish samples for mercury, lead, cadmium, inorganic arsenic and benzo(a)pyrene, all of which are found in crude oil.

The analysis revealed the fish contained very small amounts of the heavy metals but no Benzo(a)pyrene.

However, consumers should observe the characteristics and all parts of the fish before consumption, advised Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences.

Fish should be discarded immediately if any unusual objects, smells or colours are detected, he added.

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