The state Department of Environmental Protection
has issued its first consumption advisories for 12 species of fish
sampled from 14 bodies of water in six counties, which found to contain
high levels of PFAS chemicals. New Jersey is one of the first states in
the nation to expand the fish consumption advisories to these class of
chemicals.
DEP spokesman Larry Hajna says PFAS
chemicals are very durable chemicals that make them very attractive in
the past. They were once used in non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing
and firefighting foams.
Even though these chemicals have been phased out,
they do remain in the environment, says Hajna. These can present a
number of health concerns affecting the reproductive organs and immune
system. In some cases, they have been linked to certain cancers in
laboratory animals.
He says New Jersey has been
taking a proactive stance in terms of setting drinking water standards
because they are finding PFAS chemicals in the drinking water. The next
study is on the environment and Hajna says they have found the chemicals
are being taken in by the fish in certain water bodies.
Some
bodies of water being tested include the Passaic River, Metedeconk
River, the area in the Pinelands around the Joint Base McGuire Dix
Lakehurst. "We also looked in areas in Gloucester and Salem counties,
along the Woodbury Creek and Cohansey Creek in Cumberland County."
Hajna adds that fish consumption advisories have
been in place for decades for other contaminants including mercury, PCBs
and pesticides. But he says these levels are declining but now there
are other chemicals in existence.
Hajna says recreational fishermen and anglers need to stay educated by going to the website, fishsmarteatsmartnj.org.
"On
that website, people can find a comprehensive list of all the water
bodies and the advisories that are in place for fish species," says
Hajna.
The most common species of fish affected
by PFAS chemicals include large mouthed bass, blue gill sunfish,
pickerel, bullhead, carp, perch and catfish.
Among
the PFAS chemicals, PFOS is the one that has generated the most concern
in fish because of its prevalence in the environment, according to the
DEP.
No comments:
Post a Comment