Fishing Advisories and Fish Contaminants EEES 4730 Amanda Wendzicki

Objective To discuss the purpose of fish advisories, the effects and origins of the contaminants, and propose possible solutions

A warning put out by governing bodies that people limit or avoid eating certain species of fish from certain bodies of water. – May coincide with commercial fishing bans Fishing Advisory

Due to the level of contaminants within a body of water. May be targeted toward specific demographics – Largely, women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant and small children

Cause for concern Many contaminants end up within water bodies by means of runoff from improper containment or disposal practices, or straight discharge from industry. Many harmful compounds are long lasting within the aquatic environment. Bioaccumulation causes for an increased concentration of the contaminants within predatory species. Many also lend to developmental problems in humans as well as wildlife.

Contaminants 5 primary contaminants – Mercury – PCBs – Chlordane – Dioxins – DDT Long lasting in sediments Accumulate in bottom- dwellers Become more concentrated in fish by bioaccumulation as you move up the trophic levels

Mercury Particularly of concern due to developmental consequences for: – Women who are or may become pregnant – Nursing mothers – Young children Much of the mercury originates with coal- burning power plants

Minamata Disaster Kyushu Japan, 1950s, Chisso Corporation (petro chemical company) – Discharge of mercury laden waste water into local waters – As of march 2001, 2265 victims

PCBs (Polychlorinate Biphenyl) – Common coolant – Most commonly observed health affects Skin conditions Indicators of liver damage Yusho disease Kyushu Japan, 1968 Rice bran oil became contaminated Got into chicken feed

Chlordane Sold in US until 1983 as an insecticide Associated with testicular and prostate cancer among other cancers Dioxins By-products of various industrial processes Effect on humans relatively unstudied Expected adult reactions: Liver damage Diabetes Immunological effects Developmental issues believed to be greater Effecting sexual development

DDT Synthetic insecticide 1962 Silent Spring – Raised public awareness of effects Persistent organic pollutant Known for eggshell thinning of predatory birds Linked to broad developmental problems in humans

Possible solutions Those contaminants that have been pesticides have since largely been discontinued within the US and replaced with safer alternatives. – They still remain an issue in developing countries due to their relative cost and effectiveness For those that are industry born, stricter regulation and enforcement could aid in the prevention of these contaminants reaching aquatic habitats. – Only discontinued use could end new contamination, and little can be done to remove current contamination once it has been bio accumulated

National Lake Fish Tissue Study Statistically based surveys conducted by EPA since late 1990s Randomly selected lakes and reservoirs in lower 48 states Divided into 6 size categories Collected composites of one predator species and bottom-dwelling species 5 adults Analyzed each composite for 268 chemicals

Created to provide baseline information to track future changes Mercury and PCBs were present in every fish sample 49% of entire sample population exceeded EPA’s quality criteria of 0.3ppm of mercury 43 of 268 chemicals tested for not detected

"Water: Fish Advisories." Home | Water | US EPA. Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 03 Nov The National Study of Chemical Residues in Lake Fish Tissue. Washington, DC: United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Office of Science and Technology, Print. "Human Health: Fish Consumption -- Critical Contaminants." Great Lakes Information Network. Web. 03 Nov