More "forever chemicals" are present in freshwater fish than in seas

 By Tom Parkins

January 18, 2023 6.00 GMT

                                          According to a recent examination of federal data, fish from the Great Lakes had the greatest levels of harmful PFAS "forever chemicals" contamination in the United States compared to fish harvested commercially in seas.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a public health advocacy group, determined in a peer-reviewed study that eating one serving of US freshwater fish contaminated with median PFAS levels may be comparable to drinking a month's worth of severely polluted water.

According to Scott Faber, senior vice-president for government affairs at EWG, the findings are "breathtaking."

According to the study's authors, widespread PFAS contamination of freshwater fish in the US is probably a substantial source of exposure to PFOS and maybe other [PFAS] for all people, particularly for frequent freshwater fish consumers.

About 12,000 different chemicals in the PFAS family, including PFOS, are employed to make items resistant to heat, water, and stains. They are referred to be "forever chemicals" since they do not naturally decompose and have been connected to major health issues such as cancer, high cholesterol, liver disease, renal illness, troubles during pregnancy, and others.

Data from three studies that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) completed at various times since 2013 were evaluated in the new study.

Of the 501 samples the EPA examined, all but one exhibited excessive PFAS levels. According to David Andrews, one of the study's coauthors, farms may use groundwater as a source to fill ponds rather than polluted rivers or lakes because farmed freshwater fish often had considerably lower levels of PFAS than wild captured fish.

The lowest relative amounts were observed in chinook and coho salmon, whereas the highest levels were identified in a number of species of bass and catfish. Fish collected close to cities often have higher concentrations.

Commercially fished fish purchased at supermarkets was evaluated by the FDA. When compared to fish found in grocery shops, the median levels of PFAS found in wild fish from streams and rivers were 280 times higher.

The authors of the study point out that this problem poses a particularly difficult one for low-income inhabitants who cannot afford to buy fish from stores or for groups that fish for cultural purposes.

Despite the results, the EPA and the FDA have not issued any advisories to consumers or fishermen about the risks associated with eating their catch. The majority of fish advisories are based on EPA health advisories that are out-of-date and allow much higher levels of chemicals than the revised levels released this year. Fish advisories are typically issued at the state level and vary across the nation.

Other than removing any further sources of PFAS contamination, Andrews described the issue as "frustrating" since there isn't a "obvious answer." He said that lakes with irregular water turnover may remain poisoned for many years.

Because I enjoy fishing, I don't want to discourage people from going out to the water, but this study shows that freshwater fish is polluted all over the country, therefore if at all possible, Andrews advised against eating freshwater fish until you are certain that it is safe to eat.

Under the terms of a Creative Commons licence, this article has been taken from The Guardian. Go here to read the original article.