Tag: Fish consumption advisories

According to the Washington State Department of Health, while fish provide numerous nutritional benefits, contaminants like mercury and PCBs can pose a risk, leading many to question: are fish from the bay safe to eat?. The answer is nuanced, hinging on factors like the specific location, fish species, and individual consumption habits.

Largemouth bass, as an apex predator in many freshwater ecosystems, accumulate higher concentrations of mercury than many other species. The question, "Is largemouth bass high in mercury?" is therefore crucial for anglers and consumers who want to enjoy their catch while minimizing health risks from contaminants. This article explores why bass have elevated mercury, how levels differ, and what steps you can take for safer consumption.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a single species labeled as 'seabass'—Chilean seabass—falls into the 'Good Choices' category for mercury levels, while other species, like Black sea bass, are considered 'Best Choices'. This variation means it's crucial to understand the specific type of seabass you are consuming to accurately assess the mercury risk.

According to a 2018 study on wahoo from offshore US waters, the fish showed a mean mercury concentration of 0.50 mg/kg. So, is wahoo a safe fish to eat? For most healthy adults, yes, but moderation is key due to potential mercury accumulation and other food safety considerations.

According to research from the Environmental Working Group, eating a single serving of freshwater fish could expose you to PFAS equivalent to a month of drinking highly contaminated water. For many people, understanding **how to avoid PFAS in fish** is a growing concern, raising critical questions about which seafood is safe to eat and how to minimize exposure to these persistent chemicals.

According to a recent study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), consuming just one freshwater fish from a U.S. lake or river can expose you to 'forever chemicals' at levels equivalent to drinking contaminated water for a month. This raises serious questions about the safety of wild-caught lake fish and whether they are safe to eat.