RICHMOND — The Virginia Department of Health has issued a fish consumption advisory for the Chickahominy Watershed due to elevated perfluorooctane sulfonate levels. in specific fish species.
The affected species include creek chubsucker, chain pickerel, largemouth bass and sunfish, according to VDH. The advisory is effective immediately.
VDH said fish tissue samples show elevated PFOS levels in certain fish species exceeding the amount considered safe for long-term human consumption. The samples were collected between Nov. 2021 through Sept. 2023 from the Chickahominy River and White Oak Swamp.
VDH advises eating no more than two fish meals per month from the Chickahominy River, and advises against eating any of the specified fish meals from White Oak Swamp.
VDH said the advisory is for the Chickahominy River/Lake and the White Oak Swamp and all tributaries.
For the Chickahominy River, the advisory extends from the confluence of the Chickahominy River with the James River, upstream to the State Route 360 bridge at the Henrico-Hanover County line near Mechanicsville.
For the White Oak Swamp, the advisory extends from the confluence of White Oak Swamp and the Chickahominy River, upstream to the headwaters of White Oak Swamp and White Oak Swamp Creek near the Richmond International Airport.
According to VDH, the health effects of PFOS exposure can include increased cholesterol or changes in liver enzymes. It can also lower the antibody response to some vaccines, cause pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, and a decrease in birth weight. Children and women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant have an increased health risk. Nursing mothers and young children should not eat fish from this advisory area, VDH said.
Fish consumption advisories alert the public to contaminants present in affected fish species, according to VDH, but do not prohibit people from eating fish. Cleaning or cooking fish does not remove or reduce PFOS.
To reduce potential harmful effects, VDH recommends the following precautions:
- Eat smaller, younger fish (within the legal limits). Younger fish are less likely to contain harmful levels of contaminants.
- Eat fewer or smaller servings of fish.
- Try to eat different species of fish from a variety of sources (i.e., different creeks, rivers and streams).
Currently, the advisory area poses no health risk for recreational activities. Swimming, water skiing, and boating can continue in the advisory area. For more information, visit the VDH Fish Consumption Advisory page.
