PCB and Mercury Fish Consumption Advisories for York River Basin (includes Lake Anna)
Because PCBs tend to concentrate in the fatty tissues of the fish, VDH recommends the following precautions to reduce any potential harmful effects from eating fish:
- Eat the smaller, younger fish (within the legal limits). Younger fish are less likely to contain harmful levels of contaminants than larger, older fish.
- Remove the skin, the fat from the belly and top, and internal organs before cooking the fish.
- Bake, broil or grill on an open rack to allow fats to drain away from the meat.
- Discard the fats that cook out of the fish.
- Avoid or reduce the amount of fish drippings or broth that are used to flavor the meal.
- Eat less deep fried fish, since frying seals contaminants into the fatty tissue.
- Try to eat different species of fish from various sources (different creeks, rivers and streams).
The Virginia Department of Health issues fish consumption advisories based on the evaluation of fish tissue sample results provided by the state's Department of Environmental Quality. For more information on current fish advisories in Virginia, log onto the Virginia Department of Health’s website on fishing advisories.