The Connecticut Department of Public Health is issuing an advisory regarding the consumption of fish found in 11 bodies of water in the state due to potential health risks.
The advisory comes after evaluating concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, or PFOS, in fish tissue sampled between 2017 and 2022 from 14 bodies of water.
The state has issued new or revised consumption advisories for the Connecticut River, Lower Farmington River, Housatonic River (near O’Sullivan’s Island in Derby), Natchaug River, Willimantic River, Shetucket River, Naugatuck, Pequabuck River, Still River (Winchester), Scantic River, and Quinnipiac River.
“These consumer advisories are necessary to protect public health and allow community members to benefit from the nutritional benefits of eating fish,” Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani said in a statement. “PFOS is one of a group of related chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This group of chemicals is commonly used in a wide range of industrial processes and is found in many consumer products. Long-term exposure to PFAS may be associated with elevated levels of cholesterol and liver enzymes, a change in immune response, developmental effects, increased likelihood of high blood pressure and/or increased likelihood of preeclampsia during pregnancy, and increased thyroid probability.
Juthani said there was no need to change the current advisories for the Hockanum, Tankerhoosen and Upper Housatonic rivers.
There are no new or existing advisories for the Quinebaug River other than the statewide freshwater advisory due to mercury contamination that advises pregnant women, women who may become pregnant, and children under 6 years of age to eat no more of one meal per month of freshwater fish.
For all other groups, the advice is to eat no more than one meal per week of freshwater fish.
The state advisory does not apply to sunfish or trout because there are no consumption limits for these fish species except as otherwise noted, according to the state Department of Public Health.
CONSUMER NOTICES
- connecticut river
- One meal per month of all species except tarpon due to PFOS levels.
- Lower Farmington River
- One meal per month of yellow perch and largemouth bass due to PFOS levels.
- Hockanum and Tankerhoosen Rivers
- No one should eat any species due to PFOS levels.
- Housatonic River, near O’Sullivan’s Island
- One meal per month for all species due to PFOS levels.
- Upper Housatonic River and Upper Lake Lillinonah
- People at high risk should not eat sea bass. Low-risk people should only eat one meal every 2 months due to PCB levels.
- Natchaug, Willimantic and Shetucket, Willimantic and Manfield rivers
- Do not eat sea bass due to PFOS levels
- Natchaug, Willimantic and Shetucket, Willimantic and Manfield rivers
- One meal per month of all species except sea bass due to PFOS levels
- naugatuck river
- One meal a month of sea bass due to PFOS levels
- pequabuck river
- One meal per month of American eel due to PFOS levels
- Quinnipiac River, Gorge south of Meriden through Wallingford to Long Island Sound
- One meal per month from all species due to PCB and PFOS levels
- scantic river
- One meal per month of American eel due to PFOS levels
- Still River, Winchester
- One meal a month of sea bass due to PFOS levels
