Don't Eat Fish In These 5 Cape Ponds Because Of Water Chemicals

FALMOUTH, MA — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) warned people fishing about eating the fish they catch out of five Cape Cod ponds because of high levels of chemicals in the water.

The fish consumption advisory is in effect at Jons Pond in Mashpee, Flax Pond in Bourne, Jenkins and Grews ponds in Falmouth and Mashpee-Wakeby Pond in Mashpee and Sandwich. Recent testing of fish from these ponds found levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) above DPH-recommended levels for consumption.

PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals used in a variety of consumer products and industries throughout the world. Based on studies of laboratory animals and people, exposure to certain PFAS has been associated with changes in liver and kidney function, changes in thyroid hormone and cholesterol levels, and immune system effects. In addition, PFAS exposure has been shown to cause developmental effects to fetuses during pregnancy. Some studies also suggest an increased risk of developing cancer following long-term exposures to elevated levels of some PFAS, state health officials said.

The advisories differ for each pond based on chemical levels, so there are different recommendations, depending on the pond. The recommendations range from consuming one meal per week to no fish consumption, and can be found here.

The advisory is only for native species of fish and excludes stocked trout, because they are unlikely to have spent enough time in the pond to have high levels of PFAS.

Health officials tested fish and surface water in these ponds, because they are located on or near Joint Base Cape Cod where historical PFAS contamination has been found in the groundwater and surface water, and because they are popular locations for swimming and fishing.

State officials said the contamination is being addressed by the U.S. Air Force, with oversight by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (Mass DEP) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which have been investigating and overseeing the cleanup of contamination associated with Joint Base Cape Cod.

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