2010 WV Fish Consumption Advisory from WV Dept. of Health and Human
Resources
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources
11 December 2009
For more information contact:
William Toomey
Bureau for Public Health
Environmental Health Services
Phone: 304-558-6746
Fax: 304-558-0324
E-mail: William.J.Toomey@wv.gov
For immediate release
The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources has updated
the West Virginia Sport Fish Consumption Advisory for 2010. DHHR
partners with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection
and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources to develop
consumption advisories for fish caught in West Virginia.
Fish consumption advisories are updated each year to help West Virginia
anglers and their families make educated choices about eating the fish
they catch.
The 2010 advisory is the result of reviewing recent fish tissue data
and re-analysis of historical data. Improved data analysis
methodology to isolate fish from specific water known to have higher
concentrations of contaminants have resulted in less restrictive
statewide advisories in some species and additional stricter advisories
for specific waters. The only change to the current advisory is
as follows: The advisory limiting consumption of channel catfish,
all sizes, caught from the Monongahela River has been removed.
The 2010 statewide consumption advisory for Channel Catfish should be
followed.
The 2010 advisories can be reviewed at http://www.wvdhhr.org/fish,
obtained from DHHR or found in the 2010 DNR fishing regulations.
Low levels of chemicals like PCBs, mercury, selenium and dioxin have
been found in some fish from certain waters. An advisory is advice and
should not be viewed as law or regulation. It is intended to help
anglers and their families decide where to fish, what types of fish to
eat, how to limit the amount and frequency of fish eaten and how to
prepare and cook fish to reduce contaminants.
Women of childbearing age, children and people who regularly eat fish
are particularly susceptible to contaminants that build up over time.
Individuals falling into one of these categories should be especially
careful to follow the guidelines.
This advisory covers only sport fish caught in West Virginia waters.
Safety regulations and advisories for fish in the marketplace are the
responsibility of the United States Food and Drug Administration.
More information can be found at http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm110591.htm