Mongabay · Climate & nature

Fishmeal Fire Retardant Faces New Scrutiny Over Cancer Concerns

A chemical used to prevent fishmeal fires, ethoxyquin, is now under scrutiny for potential health risks, leading to bans in some regions and a search for alternatives.

Fishmeal, a key ingredient in aquaculture feed, historically posed a significant fire hazard due to spontaneous combustion. This led to numerous ship and plant fires from the 1950s to the 1970s.

The industry adopted ethoxyquin, an antioxidant, to mitigate these fires. While effective, ethoxyquin has since been linked to potential health and environmental risks, resulting in its ban in the EU and other countries.

Despite bans, ethoxyquin still appears in imported seafood sold in the U.S., though at levels below FDA safety limits. As a result, producers are exploring alternatives.

One such alternative, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), is also facing reassessment by U.S. regulators due to carcinogenicity concerns, mirroring the issues with ethoxyquin.

Ethoxyquin's use dates back to the 1960s, initially as a fire retardant and later promoted for preserving nutrients in feed. Its adoption significantly reduced reported fishmeal fires.

Concerns about ethoxyquin's safety emerged as early as 1969, with studies in the 1980s indicating potential carcinogenic effects in rats. In 2017, the EU suspended its use in animal feed due to an impurity linked to genetic mutations.

The U.S. continues to permit ethoxyquin with limits, but imported seafood, particularly from China, frequently contains the chemical. The FDA's safety threshold is considered lenient compared to the EU's complete ban on its presence in food.

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