Sea Kelp

[piglady]

You guys are great researchers on here and seem to have an answer for everything. I was using sea kelp in my mineral mix but after reading the analysis of it's contents I stoped. I'm concerned about the high level of lead and mercury. If my cow, pigs, and chickens eat it everyday, will it not build up in the pork, beef and chicken? Anyone have any information on it's safety at the levels in sea kelp.

[Ole Man Legrand]

Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would like to know also.I thought I was feeding a good supplement and now I have my doubts.I hope some one can shed some light on this.

[CoonXpress]

????? Closest thing I was able to find, was that kelp is being studied in Italy, for use as a Mercury detox agent.
Did find something, the highest concentrations is by the stem/root zone. Levels were negligible in the new top growth.
Every thing I've read, is saying that it makes a great dietary supplement.

Will

[Shinsan]

It would have to come from extemely polluted water to be a problem, and even then it would be concentrated around the holdfasts and lower stems. ('Holdfasts' is the term used for a seaweed's 'root' system.) Kelp grows at a furious rate, and is constantly being harvested for use in cosmetics and foodstuffs, (including beer and icecream!), so I wouldn't worry about the insignificant levels of heavy metals in the tops. Seaweed is also excellent as a mulch in the garden, but should never be dug in like a fertilizer.