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FISH

Health Advisory: Safe Eating Guidelines for Fish and Shellfish from Lake Berryessa and Putah Creek, including Lake Solano (Napa, Yolo, and Solano Counties)
[06/22/06]

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The California Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) announces the availability of the final report entitled “Health Advisory: Safe Eating Guidelines for Fish and Shellfish from Lake Berryessa and Putah Creek, including Lake Solano (Napa, Yolo, and Solano Counties)” The report contains an evaluation of findings on mercury in fish from Lake Berryessa, Putah Creek and Lake Solano, and provides health guidelines for consumption of fish from these water bodies.

Dr. Margy Gassel
California Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology Branch
1515 Clay Street, 16th Floor
Oakland, California 94612
Phone: (510) 622-3166
Fax: (510) 622-3218
mgassel@oehha.ca.gov

SAFE EATING GUIDELINES FISH CONSUMPTION AT LAKE BERRYESSA

Fish are nutritious and should be part of a healthy, balanced diet. The American Heart Association recommends healthy adults eat at least two meals of fish a week. It is important, however, to choose your fish wisely. OEHHA recommends that you choose fish to eat that are low in mercury such as those in “Best Choices.” Because some other types of fish from Lake Berryessa contain higher levels of mercury, OEHHA also provides additional recommendations below that you can follow to reduce the risks from exposure to methylmercury in fish.

Women of childbearing age, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children 17 years and under

BEST CHOICES (Up to 3 times a week)

There are no best choices for this population at Lake Berryessa

EAT IN MODERATION NO MORE THAN 1 MEAL A WEEK

Bluegill or other sunfish; trout; or kokanee

AVOID NO MORE THAN 1 MEAL A MONTH

Largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass; catfish; and chinook (king) salmon

Women beyond childbearing age and men

BEST CHOICES (Up to 3 times a week)

Trout or kokanee

EAT IN MODERATION NO MORE THAN 1 MEAL A WEEK

Largemouth, smallmouth, or spotted bass; catfish; chinook (king) salmon;bluegill or other sunfish

• Incomplete information suggests that carp should only be eaten in limited amounts.
• CONTACT WITH THE WATER IS SAFE.
• EAT SMALLER FISH OF LEGAL SIZE. Fish build up mercury in their bodies as they grow.
• MEAL SIZE DEPENDS ON BODY WEIGHT. Meals are based on a 160-pound adult eating 8 ounces of fish (6 ounces after cooking) — about the size of two decks of cards. If you weigh less than 160 pounds, eat smaller portions of fish. Serve smaller meals to children.
• DO NOT EAT MORE THAN ONE OF THE LISTED FISH SPECIES DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD unless you are eating from the Best Choices (green) category. If you eat fish from one place following the advisory, avoid eating fish from other sources during the same time period.
• CONSIDER THE FISH YOU BUY FROM STORES AND RESTAURANTS. Women of childbearing age and children can safely eat up to 2 meals a week of a variety of fish purchased in stores or restaurants*, OR use this guide for eating fish caught from this water body. In a week when you eat 2 meals of fish purchased from stores or restaurants, avoid eating fish caught from a local water body. Commercial fish such as shrimp, king crab, scallops, farmed catfish, wild ocean salmon, oysters, tilapia, flounder, and sole generally contain some of the lowest levels of mercury. *Women of childbearing age and children should not eat shark or swordfish, which contain the most mercury.
• FISH FROM OTHER WATER BODIES MAY ALSO CONTAIN MERCURY. Not all water bodies in California have been tested. With the exception of ocean or river-run salmon or steelhead, which may be consumed more frequently, fish caught from places without an advisory should be eaten in limited amounts.

Follow the links below to download the files as pdf files

Lake Berryessa Putah Creek final advisory June 2006

Lake Berryessa Putah Creek Executive Summary (full color with pictures) 1.5MB

Lake Berryessa Putah Creek Executive Summary (black and white with pictures) 590kb

Lake Berryessa Putah Creek Executive Summary (black and white WITHOUT pictures) 88kb

Berryessa-Putah Creek final fact sheet (color)

Berryessa-Putah Creek final fact sheet (black and white)

Berryessa Final One Page Advisory (color)

Berryessa Final One Page Advisory (black and white