| Press Release - Nov. 16, 2000 | WV - DHHR - BPH Home Page |
| Listing of all WV fish consumption advisories
Bureau for Public Health, Division of Natural Resources For further information on contaminants, including dioxin, visit the USEPA website at |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 16, 2000 (304) 558-0035 fax:(304) 558-1035 UPDATED KANAWHA RIVER FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY (Charleston) A fish consumption advisory in place since 1986 for channel catfish and other bottom-feeding species caught on the Kanawha River between Coal River and Point Pleasant, West Virginia has been updated and expanded by three state agencies. The updated advisory includes additional species of fish and extends from the Interstate 64 bridge at Dunbar downstream to Point Pleasant. The advisory also covers Manila Creek, Heizer Creek, Armour Creek, Bills Creek, the lower two miles of Pocatalico River, and other backwaters in the designated area. DNR and DEP with assistance from WVU and USEPA sampled a variety of sport fish including largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass, white bass and hybrid striped bass. Samples were also taken from suckers, crappie, sauger, freshwater drum, and channel catfish. High dioxin concentrations were consistently found in channel catfish and hybrid striped bass. Historic sampling reveals traces of dioxin in edible portions of fish with the lowest concentration of 0.89 parts per trillion found in a crappie taken from the Kanawha River at Institute and the highest concentration of 70.93 parts per trillion found in a hybrid striped bass taken from the Kanawha River near Scary. Concentrations in channel catfish ranged from a low of 3.71 parts per trillion to a high concentration of 68.21 parts per trillion. Dioxin is a waste product associated with the production of certain pesticides and paper manufacturing. Dioxin which clings to the mucky sediments of streams and rivers, tends to accumulate in the fatty tissue of fish. While immediate human health effects from eating dioxin-contaminated fish have not been documented, frequent consumption of dioxin-contaminated fish may increase the risk of long-term adverse health effects, including possible carcinogenic effects. The Bureau for Public Health (BPH), and the divisions of Natural Resources (DNR) and Environmental Protection (DEP) updated the advisory based on a new protocol for setting risk levels for consumption of fish developed by the agencies through a contract with West Virginia University (WVU). Additionally, new data were provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to the state agencies in December, 1999 from fish samples collected during 1998. Evaluating all data collected since 1990, the new protocol results in more stringent recommendations than previously issued using Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. The newly developed West Virginia Sport Fish Consumption Advisory Guide establishes a recommendation not to consume fish with dioxin concentrations greater than 20.7 parts per trillion. This advisory level is protective of both children and adults. Further, it is more protective than the FDA standards of 50 parts per trillion for the general population and 25 parts per trillion for children and women of child-bearing age. The FDA standards were previously used by the agencies in establishing fish consumption advisories. To minimize potential health risks, people should not eat catfish, suckers, hybrid striped bass or carp caught in the advisory area. For other fish caught in the advisory area, it is recommended to limit consumption to one meal per month. Further, for individuals who decide to eat these fish, the following precautions are recommended: ----Keep only smaller fish ----Only skinless and boneless filets should be eaten ----Remove dark meat from sides and fat from the belly and top of the fish ----Bake, broil or grill fish on an open rack to allow fats to drain away from the meat ----Discard the fats that cook out of the fish. The following table summarizes the advisory.
For further information contact the agencies or visit the following web sites: Bureau for Public Health, Office of Environmental Health Services (304) 558-2981 www.wvdhhr.org/oehs Division of Environmental Protection (304) 558-3614 Division of Natural Resources (304) 558-2771 www.dnr.state.wv.us/wvwildlife For further information on contaminants, including dioxin, visit the USEPA website at |
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