State Health Officials Warn of Mercury in American Falls Reservoir Fish

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare has issued a consumption advisory for fish caught in the American Falls Reservoir because of the mercury levels found in recent samples. The department warns pregnant women and young children about eating too much of certain types of fish from the reservoir. The fish consumption advisory is not meant to convince anyone to stop fishing, nor should people give up eating fish. The advisory is meant to inform people about mercury levels so they can continue to enjoy fishing and eating fish while avoiding the risks of exposure to dangerous levels of mercury. "At this level, women and young children shouldn't be eating fish everyday," said Fred Partridge, Idaho Fish and Game fishery program coordinator and member of the state's Fish Consumption Advisory Committee. "If it's once or twice a month, it's not a problem." The levels of mercury found in fish samples from American Falls Reservoir do not pose a health threat for the general public, but could affect fetuses or children under seven whose developing nervous systems are more susceptible to mercury poisoning. Women who are breast feeding, pregnant or planning to become pregnant should eat no more than three six-ounce meals per month of smallmouth bass and Utah sucker; six six-ounce meals per month of Utah chub; or eight six-ounce meals per month of trout. Children under the age of seven should not eat more than one four-ounce meal per month of smallmouth bass and Utah sucker; two four-ounce meals per month of Utah chub; or four four-ounce meals per month of trout from American Falls. Women and children who have eaten these limits shouldn't eat any additional fish, the Environmental Protection Agency warns. Long-lived fish that eat other fish, such as bass and walleye, are more likely to accumulate mercury to levels of concern. Consumption advisories also have been issued for Salmon Falls, C.J. Strike and Brownlee reservoirs, Lake Lowell and Lake Coeur d'Alene and East Mill Creek. Handling any fish will not result in mercury poisoning. Anyone concerned about mercury contamination also should avoid eating shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish, which all have high levels of mercury. Salmon, steelhead, catfish, pollock, oysters, shrimp and canned light tuna are among the many other kinds of fish low in mercury and safe to eat. "This is not an issue for normal adults," Partridge said. For additional information about mercury in fish and shellfish go to the state Health and Welfare's web site at: www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/portal/alias__Rainbow/lang__en-US/tabID_… or the Environmental Protection Agency's website at: www.epa.gov/waterscience/fishadvice/advice.html.