NC Fish Advisory for Mountain Island Lake
Mercury, PCB Contamination Found in Bass, Catfish in Mountain Island Lake
For release: Immediate
Date: January 6, 2011
Contact: Julie Henry, 919-707-5053
RALEIGH — The N.C. Division of Public Health has issued a fish consumption advisory for channel catfish and largemouth bass in Mountain Island Lake in Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties. Elevated levels of PCBs have been found in channel catfish; therefore, health officials are recommending that people avoid eating channel catfish from Mountain Island Lake.
PCB testing in largemouth bass from Mountain Island Lake was indeterminate; however, previous studies have shown that largemouth bass in all waters of North Carolina have elevated levels of mercury. Pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and children under age 15 should not eat any largemouth bass. To guard against mercury exposure and potential PCB exposure, other people should not eat more than two meals a month of largemouth bass from Mountain Island Lake. A meal is considered approximately 6 ounces of uncooked fish.
PCBs may adversely impact the neurological development of children, the reproductive system, the immune system, and may cause cancer. Mercury mostly affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, especially in unborn babies and young children. Prenatal mercury exposure can affect the way children think, learn and problem-solve later in life. Adverse health effects also can occur in adults at much higher doses.
The PCB and mercury contamination in the fish does not present a known health risk for people engaging in other recreational activities such as touching the water, wading, swimming, boating or handling the fish.
More information on the new health advice and related issues is on the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services’ Fish Consumption Advisories website at www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/fish, or call the N.C. Division of Public Health at 919-707-5900.
Related Information:
- Catawba Riverkeeper Press Release
- South Carolina Fish Advisory
- Summary of April 2010 testing by Catawba Riverkeeper on Mountain Island Lake
- Click here for a summary of mercury issues.
- Click here for more information about PCB contamination
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May 23, 2012
Duke Needs to do More to Clean Up Coal Ash
For most Charlotte residents, the concern about coal and its residue, coal ash, is as close as the next drink of water. -
May 21, 2012
Mercury Contamination in the Catawba
North Carolina South Carolina have advise against consuming certain types of fish in the Catawba due to mercury contamination. Most of the mercury is coming from coal-fired powerplants.
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May 21, 2012
Pharmaceuticals in the River
Small amounts of prescription and non-prescription medicines end up in our water. Help prevent pharmaceuticals from getting into the water or the wrong hands by disposing of medications properly. Catawba Riverkeeper is co-sponsoring Operation Medicine Drop events around the region.
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May 07, 2012
2012 Mecklenburg State of the Environment Report
How’s the air out there? Is the water getting better? Are we recycling as much as we could be? According to an online Mecklenburg County survey, the verdict on all of the above, the answers are mixed, but encouraging.
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May 04, 2012
Gaston County QNRC Cancels Coal Ash Forum
The Gaston County Quality of Natural Resources Commission (QNRC) cancelled a public forum and information session about the potential threats to drinking water from coal ash, which had been scheduled for May 3. The reasons for cancelling the forum are unclear.
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