CT Health Department issues consumption advisories for some fish species caught in state waters

The Connecticut Department of Public Health Thursday issued new or modified consumption advisories for some fish species caught in several water bodies in Connecticut, according to the agency.

The health agency said it took this action “in close coordination” with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

“Upon evaluating perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) concentrations in fish tissue sampled in 2017-2022 from 14 waterbodies using DPH’s recently derived PFOS health risk values, DPH has updated or issued new consumption advisories in 11 waterbodies as shown in the table (it issued),” the agency said in a statement. “These updated consumption advisories are for the general population and are also protective of sensitive populations.”

New or modified consumption advisories are issued for: Connecticut, Lower Farmington, Housatonic (near O’Sullivan’s Island in Derby), Natchaug, Willimantic, Shetucket, Naugatuck, Pequabuck, Still (Winchester), Scantic, and Quinnipiac rivers.

“These consumption advisories are necessary to protect public health while allowing for community members to benefit from the nutritional benefits of eating fish,” DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani, said in the statement. “PFOS is one of a group of related chemicals known as per- 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 increased levels of cholesterol and liver enzymes, a change in immune response, developmental effects, increased chance of high blood pressure and/or increased chance of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, and an increased chance of thyroid disease.”

According to Juthani it was “not necessary to modify the current advisories for the Hockanum, Tankerhoosen, and the Upper Housatonic Rivers. Additionally, there are no new or existing advisories in place for the Quinebaug River other than the statewide freshwater advisory.”

Further information from the agencies included a warning about freshwater fish: “The advice for freshwater fish caught in Connecticut for pregnant women, women who could become pregnant, and children under 6 years old (high risk groups) is to eat no more than one meal per month. For all other groups, the advice is to eat no more than one meal per week of freshwater fish. This statewide advice is due to mercury contamination found in Connecticut freshwater fish. This statewide advisory does not apply to sunfish or trout as there are no consumption limits for these fish species, except otherwise noted.”

More information on DPH fish consumption advisories is at: https://portal.ct.gov/fish or by calling a DPH staff person at 1-877-458-FISH (3474). More information on PFAS can be found at https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/Environmental-Health/PFAS/PFAS.