Maury River added to consumption advisory list
Michael Patterson
Issue date: 1/26/05 Section: News
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Virginia wildlife officials, water quality experts and local anglers are surprised and dismayed to see the Maury River on the Virginia Health Department's (VDH) fish consumption advisory list.
The Maury, whose clear waters and scenic surroundings attract fisherman, kayakers and tubers from across the state, is one of 27 new fisheries in Virginia to receive an advisory since December.
VDH issued the new advisories after changing the state's guidelines for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) consumption. The new PCB advisory level is 12 times lower than before. As a result of the stricter standard, Yellow Bullhead Catfish, Redbreast Sunfish and Rock Bass from the Maury have all been added to the advisory list. VDH recommends eating these species no more than twice per month.
The new advisory level is VDH's response to recent changes in PCB regulations by North Carolina and Maryland.
According to VDH, "Virginia shares water bodies with both states and the new guidelines provide more consistent advice to regional fishers."
Maury fishermen have good reason to be concerned about the new advisory. When PCBs are introduced into a river like the Maury, they build up in the fatty tissue of local fish populations. Anglers who eat contaminated fish can be exposed to numerous health problems, including an increased risk of cancer.
Expecting mothers need to be especially cautious about eating polluted fish. PCBs can damage the reproductive system, immune system and nervous system of unborn fetuses.
The U.S. outlawed PCB production in 1979. But because they take decades to decompose, PCBs still cause environmental and human health problems today.
The health concerns associated with PCB pollution are serious, but Alex Barron, project manager of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) fish tissue monitoring program, says anglers should not be overly worried about the new advisory.
"The department of health is erring on the side of caution-as they should-but the added risk of getting cancer from eating fish from the Maury is very, very small," he said.
The Maury, whose clear waters and scenic surroundings attract fisherman, kayakers and tubers from across the state, is one of 27 new fisheries in Virginia to receive an advisory since December.
VDH issued the new advisories after changing the state's guidelines for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) consumption. The new PCB advisory level is 12 times lower than before. As a result of the stricter standard, Yellow Bullhead Catfish, Redbreast Sunfish and Rock Bass from the Maury have all been added to the advisory list. VDH recommends eating these species no more than twice per month.
The new advisory level is VDH's response to recent changes in PCB regulations by North Carolina and Maryland.
According to VDH, "Virginia shares water bodies with both states and the new guidelines provide more consistent advice to regional fishers."
Maury fishermen have good reason to be concerned about the new advisory. When PCBs are introduced into a river like the Maury, they build up in the fatty tissue of local fish populations. Anglers who eat contaminated fish can be exposed to numerous health problems, including an increased risk of cancer.
Expecting mothers need to be especially cautious about eating polluted fish. PCBs can damage the reproductive system, immune system and nervous system of unborn fetuses.
The U.S. outlawed PCB production in 1979. But because they take decades to decompose, PCBs still cause environmental and human health problems today.
The health concerns associated with PCB pollution are serious, but Alex Barron, project manager of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality's (DEQ) fish tissue monitoring program, says anglers should not be overly worried about the new advisory.
"The department of health is erring on the side of caution-as they should-but the added risk of getting cancer from eating fish from the Maury is very, very small," he said.