Do Not Eat Fish From These MI Lakes, Rivers Due To Chemicals: MDHHS

MICHIGAN — Health officials warned Michiganders Friday to not eat fish from numerous southeastern Michigan lakes and rivers due to chemicals.

The "Do Not Eat" advisory includes fish from these rivers and lakes:

• Norton Creek (Oakland County)
• Hubbell Pond also known as Mill Pond (Oakland County)
• Kent Lake (Oakland County)
• Ore Lake (Livingston County)
• Strawberry & Zukey Lakes (Livingston County)
• Gallagher Lake (Livingston County)
• Loon Lake (Livingston County)
• Whitewood Lakes (Livingston County)
• Base Line & Portage Lakes (Livingston/Washtenaw County line)
• Barton Pond (Washtenaw County)
• Geddes Pond (Washtenaw County)
• Argo Pond (Washtenaw County)
• Ford Lake (Washtenaw County)
• Belleville Lake (Wayne County)

There are also ‘Do Not Eat’ advisories in effect for fish caught in the Huron River, due to elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). The advisory begins downstream when the river crosses N. Wixom Road in Oakland County to where the river crosses Interstate 275 in Wayne County.

The chemicals most commonly found in fish are mercury and PCBs, as well as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), officials said.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), like mercury, cannot be removed by trimming away the fat on the fish because the chemical is stored in the filet, officials said.

Health officials also released an updated guide for eating smelt, and which bodies of water were safe to do so from. Those rivers and lakes include:

• Lake Huron: 6 servings per year.
• Lake Michigan: 1 serving per month.
• Portage Lake in Houghton County: 1 serving per month.
• Gull Lake in Kalamazoo County: 2 servings per month
• Higgins Lake in Roscommon County: 4 servings per month

In Lake Superior, elevated levels of Perfluorooctane sulfonate mean the health department is advising someone doesn't eat more than one serving of smelt a month.