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Seafood
Consumption Advisory for Turtle River For the latest Advisory
information, click below for a PDF copy of a
DID YOU KNOW. . . ¨ SOME OF THE FISH FROM THE TURTLE RIVER HAVE CHEMICALS IN THEM THAT CAN CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS? ¨ FISH CAUGHT IN THE TURTLE RIVER MAY CONTAIN MERCURY AND PCB's? ¨ FISH THAT CONTAIN THESE CHEMICALS DO NOT LOOK, SMELL OR TASTE DIFFERENT? Why is this important to me? Eating fish with mercury or PCB's will not make you sick right away but as you eat more and more, the contaminants may build up in your body. Unborn babies and young children are developing and growing rapidly. Mercury is more harmful to these groups and it is likely that PCB's are too. Pregnant women can pass mercury and PCB's to their unborn babies and mothers can pass it to their babies through breast milk. Can I still eat fish? Fish is a healthy, low-fat source of protein. There is no way to clean or cook the fish to get rid of mercury; however, proper cleaning and cooking may reduce PCB's. Mercury is stored mostly in the meat of the fish and not in the fat or skin like PCB's. You can reduce health risks from eating fish by doing these things: R Follow the advice of this fact sheet. R Eat smaller fish. R Eat smaller amounts of fish. R Eat fish from places like markets, restaurants and from lakes and rivers that do not have fish advisories. R Do not eat any seafood from Purvis or Gibson Creeks (between Hwy. 303 and the Pulp Mill).
How much fish can I eat? There are no restrictions on the amount of shrimp people can eat from the Turtle River. Most people should not eat more than 1 meal per week of flounder. Black drum, red drum, spotted sea trout, croaker, and blue crab should not be eaten more than 1 meal per month. Unborn babies, infants and children can be more easily harmed by mercury. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, breast-feeding or have young children, for added protection, you may limit the amount of fish you eat from the Turtle River to a greater extent than these recommendations. Will eating fish affect my health? If large amounts of mercury or PCB's get into your body, they may cause health problems. Mercury collects in fish meat and may build up in people who eat fish. It is harmful to the kidneys and nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves). In most cases, health effects from mercury in adults go away as the body gets rid of it. PCB's collect in the fat of fish tissue and in fatty fish such as carp and catfish. It can cause developmental problems in children whose mothers were exposed to PCB's before becoming pregnant. PCB's can also cause changes in human blood, liver and immune functions of adults.
Is catching and releasing OK? People who want to continue to enjoy fishing, but also want to avoid any risks from eating fish containing the chemicals, should consider catching and releasing. Catching and releasing is a good way to preserve your local fishery. People who want to continue to enjoy fishing, but also want to avoid any risks from eating fish containing the chemicals, should consider catching and releasing. Catching and releasing is a good way to preserve your local fishery.
How can I get more information? If you have questions or need more information, please call: Glynn
Environmental Coalition Environmental
Protection Division Hazardous Waste Program Coastal Resources Division
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P. O. Box 2443
