CT Health Officials Warn About Freshwater Fish Consumption

CONNECTICUT — The state Department of Public Health has issued new or modified consumption advisories for certain fish species in 11 waterbodies in Connecticut.

The warnings were issued Thursday, following the evaluation of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) concentrations in fish tissue sampled in 2017-2022 from 14 waterbodies, according to a news release from DPH.

New or modified consumption advisories are issued for the following rivers: Connecticut, Lower Farmington, Housatonic (near O’Sullivan’s Island in Derby), Natchaug, Willimantic, Shetucket, Naugatuck, Pequabuck, Still (Winchester), Scantic, and Quinnipiac.

“These consumption advisories are necessary to protect public health while allowing for community members to benefit from the nutritional benefits of eating fish,” said DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD.

PFOS is one of a group chemicals commonly used in a wide range of industrial processes and is found in many consumer products, according to Juthani.

"Long-term exposure to PFAS may be associated with increased levels of cholesterol and liver enzymes, a change in immune response, developmental effects, increased chance of high blood pressure and/or increased chance of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, and an increased chance of thyroid disease," Juthani said.

The new advisories are in addition to a pre-existing statewide warning regarding eating fish in Connecticut. Pregnant women, women who could become pregnant, and children under 6 years old should eat no more than one Connecticut freshwater fish meal per month, according to DPH. For all other groups, the advice is to eat no more than one meal per week of freshwater fish.

This statewide advice is due to mercury contamination found in Connecticut freshwater fish. This statewide advisory does not apply to sunfish or trout as there are no consumption limits for these fish species, except otherwise noted.

Additional information on DPH fish consumption advisories can be found online here.

(a)All modified or new consumption advisories are for the general population, however it is important to note that they are also protective of sensitive groups such as children under 6 years old, pregnant and nursing women and women who could become pregnant.

(b)Shad only travel to the Connecticut River to spawn, are only in the river for a short period of time, have low contamination and are not included in the advisory.

(c)High Risk group includes children under 6 years old, pregnant women, nursing women, and women who could become pregnant. Low risk group includes everyone else.

(d)Polychlorinated biphenyls (e)Downstream from the Rainbow Dam in the town of Windsor to the confluence with the Connecticut River.

(f)Includes both large and smallmouth bass.

(g)Hockanum River from the outlet of Shenipsit Lake (Tolland Ave., Vernon) to the Connecticut River, including several riverine impoundments of Papermill Pond, including Pitney Park (Vernon), Union Pond (Manchester), small impoundments and ponds (East Hartford) and the Tankerhoosen River (upstream to dam at Main Street, Vernon).

(h)Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid.

(i)The Housatonic River upstream to the Derby Dam and downstream to the Rt. 15 Bridge. Upstream on the Naugatuck River to the Kinneytown Dam.

(j)The Natchaug River from the dam at the Willimantic Reservoir (northern boundary) downstream to where it forms the Shetucket River. The advisory extends a 1⁄2 mile down the Shetucket River to Plains Road. Willimantic River from where it meets the Shetucket and Natchaug Rivers upstream to the dam at Pine Street.

(k)Includes the entire Naugatuck River as well as the West Branch Naugatuck River downstream of Stillwater Pond, Torrington.

(l)Upstream boundary is the Somersville Pond Dam.