A study published this week by the Environmental Working Group found that consumption of just one wild-caught freshwater fish was equal to drinking PFA-contaminated water for a month.
“Even infrequently eating as few as four meals of fish per year–that could double your (contaminant) level in your blood,” said Tasha Stoiber, Ph.D. of EWG, one of the authors of the study. “What these data are saying is that, especially for people that are high-frequency consumers of fish, this could be a primary exposure pathway for PFAS to your body.”
For Minnesotans, who take pride in the state’s more than 11,000 lakes and proximity to Lake Superior, this could be troubling news. State health leaders say they continue to try to provide as much information to those who like to fish and those who enjoy the bounty of those catches as it relates to possible contamination.
“Minnesota is a leader in the country as far as using the latest data and risk assessment information to make sure we can give sound advice to people eating fish or drinking water,” said Angela Preimesberger, Fish Consumption Advisory Specialist with the Minnesota Department of Health. “As far as can you go in your backyard and eat your fish or you’re living on the North Shore and you want to understand where the benefits are from eating fish but you want to avoid the risks, that is on the health department’s webpage.”
Health experts and scientists do agree that with increased awareness in recent years about the sources, dangers, and exposure risks of these so-called “forever chemicals,” the levels measured in waters are going down, slightly.
“The great news is Minnesota’s ahead of the curve,” said Preimesberger. “We have a lot of available guidance and there are many species of fish in many waters that can be safely fished.”
And these studies are the push to continue efforts to eliminate the discharge of the chemicals, said Stoiber.
“Now is the time for action,” she said. “Now is the time to pay attention to this.”
