Thread: Fish consumption advisory, are there sound study to back them up?

Depends on what specific advisory you're talking about. Eating fish out of Crabtree Creek in Raleigh? Not a good idea. I think Japan eats a lot of fish from the ocean which is probably healthier than fish from local rivers and lakes. A lot of inland water has been polluted from industries and power plants, I would trust those advisories! And yes, they do studies and take samples before setting advisories. There was a time when Crabtree Creek had no advisory, then they went and did some samples, and what'ya know, massive pollution.

I did some research on this because I wondered why fish in lakes have advisories. I can understand creeks and rivers near plants, but why lakes? Here is how the pollution works:

1. Coal-fired power plant emits poison such as mercury into the air
2. Mercury lands on the water everywhere
3. Plankton and bacteria end up consuming those poisons
4. Baitfish feed on the the plankton
5. Gamefish feed on the baitfish

Also, once the poison is in a fish it doesn't leave, so fish slowly build up the poisons over time until we catch and eat them.

Mercury Contamination of Aquatic Ecosystems

Yep it depends on what water body and why there is an advisory. Crabtree Creek has an advisory for PCB where lots of coastal streams have warnings due to mercury. If I'm not mistaken a large source of coastal mercury is due to mercury leaching out of peaty wetland soils as they break down after drainage ditches are installed.

Many of the chemicals/elements for these advisories are things that bioaccumulate so if you eat these fish don't eat them frequently and don't serve to young children or pregnant mothers.

They have also gotten better at how they take fish samples. Early on they would just grind the fish whole and measure the contaminates in them. Now the actually measure the contaminates in the meat of a skinless filet in addition to samples from whole fish and individual organs in the fish to get a better understanding of the distribution. Certain species will carry more of a risk based on their feeding habits and older fish as well due to the bioaccumulation.

Originally Posted by fliesforall

Certain species will carry more of a risk based on their feeding habits and older fish as well due to the bioaccumulation.

Good point - they issue advisories for different fish in the same water based on how long those fish live, and what they eat. Predatory fish such as Crappie that eat baitfish are usually high on the advisory list based on the food chain described above.

Let me see...They tell you not to eat a Crappie that you may eat twice a month but don't say much about the genetic altering of the grain so it will produce more. They know it generates more fat and we eat it every day. I say eat what you want and die happy.

Originally Posted by SEA DANCER

Let me see...They tell you not to eat a Crappie that you may eat twice a month but don't say much about the genetic altering of the grain so it will produce more. They know it generates more fat and we eat it every day. I say eat what you want and die happy.

Im with you Dancer if went lived our lives by every advisory that is put out there, from what causes cancer to what is in your food that is produced here in the USA we would starve to death in a month, Eat, Drink, and be merry.

If you enjoy something give it enough time and they will tell you it's bad for you and causes cancer. Then three years reverse that and say it wasn't so bad afterall but these other things are now bad for you. I'm like the others, eat what I like within reason and enjoy life you're gonna go sometime anyhow!

Eat all you want but again, think about how much you are feeding children and young mothers