Moreover consuming smaller fish is considered to be lot safer when considering chemical contamination. When women in Faroe Islands had unusually high concentration of pollutants in their breast milk the scientists did a study. Faroe islands lie between Iceland and the northern tip of Scotland, a beautiful place to visit. It's away from contamination sources.
One major contaminant was PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) which had already been phased out in many countries. But these toxic chemicals called persistent organic pollutants (POPs), travel around the planet using air and water.
In Faroe island, they eat Pilot Whales. Those who ate pilot whales were affected than those who consume mackerel, anchovies or generally smaller fish. The larger top feeder fish collect all these chemicals.
The same effect was observed with Inuit living in the Canadian Arctic, who in their blood have contaminant levels much higher than Canadians, because they eat marine mammals such as walrus and narwhal.
It's sad that how humans have polluted the oceans and marine life.
