It may be a good idea to check the labels on omega-3 supplements for some evidence that the supplement: 1) has been purified to eliminate mercury; 2) it contains no detectable levels of mercury; and, 3) that it contains no detectable levels of PCBs (link to Q IX 3) or that they were distilled to eliminate PCBs.
That said, results from a study done by Consumer Labs indicated that none of the 52 fish oil and omega-3 supplements they examined contained detectable levels of mercury, PCBs, or other contaminants found in fish. Perhaps a larger concern raised in this report, was that several of the supplements evaluated contained substantially lower levels of EPA and DHA than were noted on their labels. So if you decide to take omega-3 supplements you may want to do a little research to ensure that you’re getting what you pay for.
Ratings and information for some other omega-3 supplements is available from the International Fish Oil Standards program at the University of Guelph in Canada.
