When our neighbors invited my family to dinner to enjoy fish they’d caught off their boat the day before, I initially hesitated. Fresh-caught fish sounds romantic, right? But, while on the one hand it’s packed with protein and healthful omega-3 fatty acids, there are also all those warnings about toxins and contaminants. This is especially true for fish caught in local waters, as contaminants and toxins are in many “sparkling streams” and tend to vary by region. While the government carries the burden of making sure fish in grocery stores and restaurants is safe, the same does not hold true for fish you or other locals catch on your own. In this case consumers must be knowledgeable about the safety of the local waters. To sort through what you need to know before you grill your fresh catch of the day, I spoke with Charles R. Santerre, PhD, a professor of food toxicology in the department of foods and nutrition at Purdue University in Indiana.
The primary worries for fish in general are mercury and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls). Fish caught in local waters may also contain pollutants such as DDT, dioxins and chlordane. Many of these environmental contaminants end up stored in our bodies and can take some time to be eliminated. For instance, PCBs are stored in body fat and the liver, while mercury is concentrated in organs and in muscle. High levels of mercury are linked with nervous system damage or impaired neurological development in the very young. PCBs can take six years or more to clear from the body. Lots of variables contribute to the level of contamination in fish—including where the fish lives, its age and how contaminated its food source is.
Don’t assume that fish you—or your neighbor—catch locally is safe. Before eating, check with your local health department about safety considerations in the local waters. To find advisories, go to www.epa.gov/waterscience/fish/states.htm.
Guidelines are different for youngsters, as well as for women who are nursing or pregnant. Fish consumption should be discussed with your physician in this case, since the nutrients are vital but the health risks are magnified. Dr. Santerre has developed a chart to help make smart choices for these populations when buying and eating fish. This handy reference sorts out fish according to high, low and moderate mercury levels.
It’s fishing season so many people will be angling for a good catch—be it their usual pastime or on a special adventure with friends and family. It’s fun to go fishing. Just be sure that what you catch and where you catch it are healthy—otherwise, catch and release. To learn more, in addition to the resources mentioned above, visit the US Environmental Protection Agency Web site at http://www.epa.gov/ost/fish/.
