State Health Officials Provide New Guide to Eating Fish in Missouri

First posted on 03-04-2007

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) recently issued the 2007 Fish Consumption Advisory, an annual report summarizing fish species that should be avoided or eaten in limited quantities due to concerns about environmental contaminants. The advisory provides consumption advice for locally caught fish, updates to the health effects of key contaminants, and guidance on fish preparation to reduce contaminants prior to consumption.

This year DHSS added consumption advisories for Channel Catfish, Carp, Buffalo, White Bass, and Smallmouth Bass within specific water bodies. DHSS added an advisory for Carp species to the Missouri and Mississippi rivers advisory.

Each year, the department evaluates the level of contaminants in fish to make sure they are safe to eat. Chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and persistent pesticides such as chlordane have been in fish tissue for many years, though Missouri has seen a slow decrease in their concentrations. However, levels of these and other contaminants, especially lead and mercury, occur at levels in certain fish species that could pose a health risk, so consumption advisories are required. Because DHSS uses the latest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) risk-based methodology and local fish tissue information, Missourians may see changes to the advisory from year to year. The 2007 advisories are based on the most recent information available.

“Fish are a good source of high quality protein that is low in cholesterol and harmful fats,” said Todd Blanc, an environmental specialist who coordinates the report. “To ensure that Missourians are getting those healthful effects from eating fish, the State of Missouri will continue to monitor fish tissue and advise Missourians when there is a concern,” Blanc added.

Blanc said that because not all waters in the Missouri are monitored, the noncommercial fish consumption advice is a baseline of protection. This advice balances risks from contamination with the benefits of eating fish.

Following is a brief summary of the DHSS 2007 Fish Consumption Advisory. The full advisory may found in the 2007 Fish Advisory. At the end of the advisory is a guide to cleaning and cooking fish in a manner designed to reduce some chemical contaminants. Special cleaning or cooking methods cannot reduce levels of metals such as mercury and lead.

DHSS 2007 Fish Summary
DHSS recommends that all consumers be aware of the positive benefits of eating fish and the potential for adverse effects from mercury in fish to the central nervous and cardiovascular systems. Eating smaller fish is safer because these fish have not lived long enough to accumulate mercury in their bodies.

Because of the potential risk mercury poses to the developing nervous system of fetuses and young children, DHSS is continuing to advise sensitive, high-risk groups, including: women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant; nursing mothers; and children under 13 years of age, to limit fish consumption.

The above sensitive groups are advised to eat no more than:

One meal per month of Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, and Smallmouth Bass greater than 12 inches in length,
One meal per week of Carp greater than 21 inches in length,
One meal per week of all other sport fish, per EPA’s recommendation, because all fish have various levels of mercury. In absence of local advisories, consumers are advised to restrict fish consumption of locally caught fish to one meal per week.
One meal is 11 ounces for adults and 3 ounces for children under 13 years

For sensitive groups, the following water bodies have limited-consumption advisories due to mercury:

Clearwater Lake (Reynolds County)--
One meal per month: White Bass greater than 15 inches in length.

While fish tissue contaminant concentrations have declined, PCBs and chlordane remain at levels of health concern for certain water bodies. DHSS recommends limited consumption of specified fish from the following locations for the reasons stated:

Missouri and Mississippi rivers--
One meal per month: Shovelnose Sturgeon fish tissue (excluding eggs) due to PCBs and chlordane.
Do not eat: Sturgeon eggs collected from these waters due to PCBs and chlordane.
One meal per week: Flathead, Channel, and Blue Catfish greater than 17 inches due to PCBs, chlordane, and mercury.
One meal per week: Carp species greater than 21 inches due to PCBs, chlordane, and mercury.
Turkey Creek (near Highway “P” in Jasper County)--
One meal per week: Buffalo species greater than 21” due to PCBs and chlordane.

Water bodies in Missouri with advisories because of lead include the following:

Big River (St. Francois and Jefferson counties) and Flat River (St Francois County from Highway B to six miles downstream to where it enters Big River)—
Do not eat: Carp, Sunfish, Redhorse, or other Suckers.
Big Creek (Iron County near Glover)--
Do not eat: Sunfish.
Middle Fork of the Black River (Reynolds County)--
Do not eat: Smallmouth Bass.