Impacts of Water Quality on
Public Health[i]
Fish are nutritious and good to eat. But some fish may take in contaminants from the water they live in and the food they eat. Some of these contaminants build up in the fish - and in you - over time. These contaminants could harm people who eat them, so it is important to keep your exposure to these contaminants as low as possible. This advisory helps you plan what fish to keep as well as how often and how much fish to eat. This advisory is not intended to discourage you from eating fish, but should be used as a guide to eating fish low in contaminants.
CONTAMINANTS IN FISH
Long lasting contaminants such as PCBs, chlordane, and mercury build up in your
body over time. It may take months or years of regularly eating contaminated
fish to build up amounts that are a health concern. Health problems that may
result from the contaminants found in fish range from small changes in health
that are hard to detect to birth defects and cancer. Mothers who eat highly
contaminated fish for many years before becoming pregnant may have children who
are slower to develop and learn. The meal advice in this advisory is intended
to protect children from these potential developmental problems. Adults are
less likely to have health problems at the low levels that affect children.
People who regularly eat sport fish, women of childbearing age, and children are particularly susceptible to contaminants that build up over time. If you fall into one of these categories, you should be especially careful to space fish meals out according to the advisory issued by the State of Pennsylvania. Your body can get rid of some contaminants over time. Spacing the meals out helps prevent the contaminants from building up to harmful levels in the body. For example, if the fish you eat is in the "One Meal a Month Group", wait a month before eating another meal of fish from any restricted category. Women beyond their childbearing years and men face fewer health risks from contaminants. However, if you are in this group you should also follow the State advisory to reduce your total exposure to contaminants.
CURRENT FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES FOR CHARTIERS CREEK (2000)
Area Under Advisory
#1:
Chartiers & Little Chartiers Creeks Chartiers Creek from Canonsburg to mouth
Species:
Largemouth bass
Recommended Meal
Frequency:
One meal a month (12 meals/year)
Contaminants:
PCB, Chlordane
Area Under Advisory
#2:
Little Chartiers Creek from Canonsburg Lake to mouth
Species:
Carp
Recommended Meal
Frequency:
Do Not Eat
Contaminants:
PCB, Chlordane
CLEANING AND COOKING
YOUR FISH
PCBs
and most other organic contaminants usually build up in a fish's fat deposits
and just underneath the skin. By removing the skin and fat before cooking, you
can reduce the levels of these chemicals. Mercury collects in the fish's muscle
and cannot be reduced by cleaning and cooking methods.
To reduce PCBs and other organics:
· Remove all skin.
· Slice off fat belly meat along the bottom of the fish.
· Cut away any fat above the fish's backbone.
· Cut away the V-shaped wedge of fat along the lateral line on each side of the fish.
· Bake or broil trimmed fish on a rack or grill so some of the remaining fat drips away.
· Discard any drippings. Do not eat them or use them for cooking other foods.
Also remember that larger and older fish tend to collect more contaminants, and fatty fish (such as channel catfish, carp, and eels) tend to collect PCBs and other organic chemicals. Eating smaller, younger fish and avoiding fatty species can help limit your exposure. Your exposure depends not only on levels in the fish, but also the amount of fish you eat. The consumption of any fish from contaminated waters is a matter of personal choice.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For further information or the most
current advice contact:
· Dept. of Environmental Protection 717-787-9637 - Questions concerning current advisory listings, waters sampled, sampling methods.
· Dept. of Health 717-787-1708 - Questions about effects of chemicals on human health.
· Fish and Boat Commission 814-359-5147 - Questions about effects of chemicals on fisheries, current advisory listings.
· http://www.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Fish_Boat/2000sum.htm - for information on current fish advisories.