Caspian Sea is polluted, but no scientific studies have yet proved any link between cancers and sea pollution, Parvin Farshchi, the deputy head of Iran's Environment Protection Organization said in reaction to a claim by a parliamentarian, Iran's official IRNA news agency reported Oct. 1.
"We have warned about the sea's microbial pollution and demarcated the polluted areas," she added.
Farshchi pointed to industrial, household and agricultural sewage as the main sources of Caspian Sea pollution.
"Sometimes the sea is contaminated by oil, but no studies have been conducted to measure the impact of pollutants on different marine species," she said.
Farshchi said further investigations are needed to prove a link between Caspian Sea pollution and cancers.
She added that her organization is ready to cooperate with the Health Ministry to conduct studies on the relationship between sea pollution and rise in cancers.
Abdolvahid Fayyazi, an Iranian MP recently claimed that marine food consumption is threatening the health of people because they are contaminated.
Fayyazi criticized the government for not having a program to combat sea pollution.