On July 13, 2023, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) issued an announcement of recommended eating limits for fish in North Carolina from the middle and lower Cape Fear River. The recommendation comes from concerns about exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) found in fish sampled from that area. The guidance is based on newly available data and information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Here is a map of the middle and lower regions of the Cape Fear River, highlighting the area covered by the PFOS fish consumption advisory.
Fish have long been an important staple in the diet, some taken from "the fish traps," a rock formation in the Cape Fear River.
Native Americans and settlers used these natural traps to capture fish, an important part of their diets.
Because the river is the most industrialized in the state, it attracts manufacturing plants, wastewater treatment plants, landfills, paper mills, and other companies.
As a result, the river is polluted by various substances and chemicals, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
PFOS are part of PFAS
often called forever chemicals because they don't break down in the environment.
PFAS were found in all of the species that were tested, with PFO levels higher in flathead, bluegill, flathead catfish, striped bass, largemouth Bass, and Redear. Levels were lower in blue catfish, channel catfish, and American shad.
The PFOS concentrations were similar to those measured in fish from other states, based on recent data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
If you have concerns about possible health effects of PFAS exposures, the NCDHHS has prepared some information.
If you like, take this Clinician Memo to discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider. This photo is of the Cape Fear River Trail.
For more information about recommended eating limits for fish in North Carolina, read the NCDHHS press release.
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