The Alabama Department of Public Health has released its 2016 fish consumption advisories, a list of recommendations on how much of certain species of fish caught in specific locations a person can safely eat without worrying about the presence of toxins like mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or perfluoralkyl sulfonate (PFOS).
The report includes the impoundment/location, what caused the restriction(s), if any, and the consumption limitation. There are many reports on water in north Alabama worth investigating. Impoundments, creeks, etc. without any contamination or advisory are also listed.
Samples are tested for toxins and an Alabama Department of Public Health advisory is released for a specific species of fish caught in specific bodies of water. Some advisories list river mile markers as was the case with the PFOS and PFOA contamination advisory for Wheeler Lake. If different species of fish are caught from the same location test positive for high levels of a contaminant the advisory is extended to those species.
The primary toxins found in Alabama rivers, smaller impoundments and streams is PCB, mercury and PFOA/PFOS.
To immediately read/download the report here: Fish_advisory_update_2016
