New Waterways and Species Added to Utah Mercury Fish Consumption Advisory List

(Salt Lake City, UT) – Three new locations and one new fish species at an existing advisory location have been added to Utah’s Mercury Fish Consumption Advisory list. The advisories are being issued after state officials found elevated levels of mercury in fish tissue in these waterways.

Since 2000, fish in 322 waterways in Utah have been tested for mercury. Only 19 of these sites had average concentrations of mercury that exceeded the federal Environmental Protection Agency limit.

  

The 322 sites that were sampled included 200 river/stream sites and 122 lake/reservoir sites.

The new and revised fish advisories include:

• Newcastle Reservoir (Iron County) – Pregnant women and children should not eat Smallmouth Bass.  Adults should limit their consumption to one 8-ounce serving per month.
• Newcastle Reservoir (Iron County) – No one should eat large sized Wipers (greater than 16 inches or 2.2 pounds). For smaller sized Wipers, pregnant women and children should limit their consumption to one 4-ounce serving per month and adults should limit their consumption to two 8-ounce servings per month.
• Recapture Reservoir (San Juan County) - Pregnant women and children should not eat Black Bullhead.  Adults should limit their consumption to one 8-ounce serving per month.
• Duchesne River near Tabiona (Duchesne County) - Pregnant women and children should not eat Brown Trout.  Adults should limit their consumption to two 8-ounce servings per month.
• Brough Reservoir (Uintah County) - No one should eat Brown Trout.  Pregnant women and children should not eat Rainbow Trout.  Adults should limit their consumption of Rainbow Trout to one 8-ounce serving per month.
• Red Fleet Reservoir (Uintah County) – Pregnant women and children should not eat large sized Walleyes (greater than 12 inches long) and adults should limit their consumption to two 8-ounce servings per month. For smaller sized Walleyes (less than 12 inches long), pregnant women and children should limit their consumption to one 4-ounce serving per month and adults should limit their consumption to two 8-ounce servings per month.
• Steinaker Reservoir (Uintah County) - Pregnant women and children should not eat Largemouth Bass.  Adults should limit their consumption to two 8-ounce servings per month.

For a complete list of all Utah Mercury Fish Consumption Advisories please visit the following Web site: www.fishadvisories.utah.gov.

An 8-ounce serving is equivalent to the size of two decks of playing cards. According to an analysis completed by the Utah Department of Health, eating more than the amounts noted in the advisories over a long period of time could result in an intake of mercury that exceeds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency health recommendations.

Mercury is a naturally occurring element that can be transformed into methyl mercury, a toxic form found in some natural waters. Those most vulnerable to the effects of mercury toxicity include women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, nursing mothers, and young children. Chronic exposure to low concentrations of methyl mercury in fish may result in neurological effects in the developing fetus and children.

Any health risks associated with eating fish from the fish advisory areas are based on long-term consumption and are not tied to eating fish occasionally. Eating fish remains an important part of a healthy diet. The American Heart Association recommends that individuals eat at least two fish or seafood meals weekly.

There is no health risk associated with mercury in the water for other uses of the reservoirs, streams, rivers or creeks, such as swimming, boating and waterskiing.

Not all water bodies have been tested and further testing may result in additional advisories. Utah fish consumption advisories are issued in partnership between the Utah Department of Health, Utah Department of Environmental Quality and the Utah Department of Natural Resources.

For more detailed information please visit the following Web site: http://www.fishadvisories.utah.gov/.

Sam LeFevre, (801) 538-6191

Department Of Health/Environmental Epidemiology Program

John Whitehead, (801) 536-4314

Department of Environmental Quality/Division of Water Quality

Mark Hadley, (801) 538-4737

Department of Natural Resources/Division of Wildlife Resources