New York Health Department says EAT NO MORE THAN ONE MEAL of fish per week to reduce exposure to chemical contaminants

The New York State Health Department has released this year's guide for Health Advisories, Chemicals in Sportfish and Game.

The 2004-05 State guide includes updates for some New York City reservoirs, Adirondack lakes and ponds, and other waters in New York and provides advice for sports anglers and hunters about how to reduce exposure to chemical contaminants in some of the State's sportfish and game.

The Health Advisories apply to recreational sportfish and are not applicable to commercial fish sold in markets, where the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards and advisories apply. Specific advisories now apply to more than 90 New York water bodies and identify those sportfish that have elevated levels of chemical contaminants. The State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) collects fish and wildlife and analyzes them for chemical contaminants. The State Health Department uses the DEC data to develop the Health Advisories. This year new information on 15 Adirondack waters was made available as part of recent studies by the DEC.

A general advisory applies to sportfish taken from any fresh waters in the state and some marine waters at the mouth of the Hudson River. The general advice is to EAT NO MORE THAN ONE MEAL (1/2 pound) of fish per week.

Special health advice for women of childbearing age and children under the age of 15 to EAT NO sportfish applies to any water body where specific advisories have been issued. This health advice is based on findings that contaminants in sportfish may be a greater risk to a fetus or young child. Many of these contaminants may build up in women's bodies and be passed on in mother's milk. Women of childbearing age and children under the age of 15 should EAT NO fish from the waters listed below.