June 26, 2013
DSHS Revises Fish Consumption Advisories for Houston and Galveston Area
Waters
The Texas Department of State Health Services has issued revised fish
consumption advisories for certain Texas waters. The following advisories are in
effect:
San Jacinto River – Houston Ship Channel: People should limit or avoid the
consumption of all species of fish and blue crab from the Houston Ship Channel,
the San Jacinto River below the Lake Houston Dam and all contiguous waters north
of Highway 146. The advisory was issued after laboratory testing of fish and
blue crab from the San Jacinto River and Houston Ship Channel indicated that
concentrations of dioxins, pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs
exceeded DSHS health guidelines. Regular or long-term consumption of fish or
blue crab from these waters may increase the likelihood of long-term health
risks.
Women of childbearing age and children under 12 years old should not
consume any species of fish or blue crab taken from the San Jacinto River and
Houston Ship Channel. Women past childbearing age and adult men should consume
no more than one meal per month.
Galveston Bay: DSHS has removed the consumption advisory for spotted
seatrout from a portion of Galveston and Trinity Bays and all of East and West
Bays. The area is south of a line from Red Bluff Point to Five-Mile Cut Marker
to Houston Point. Laboratory testing of spotted seatrout from these areas
indicated that concentrations of dioxins and PCBs have decreased to acceptable
levels and no longer pose a significant health risk.
Upper Galveston Bay: Consumption of spotted seatrout from the Upper
Galveston Bay continues to pose a health risk and the advisory remains in effect
for this area. Concentrations of dioxins and PCBs exceed DSHS health guidelines.
Regular or long-term consumption of spotted seatrout from these waters may
result in adverse health effects. An advisory also remains in effect for blue
crab from this area.
Women of childbearing age and children under 12 years old should not
consume spotted seatrout from Upper Galveston Bay. Women past childbearing age
and adult men are advised to consume no more than one meal per month. Upper
Galveston Bay includes the portion of the Galveston Bay estuary north of a line
from Red Bluff Point to Five-Mile Cut Marker to Houston Point.
An advisory for all species of catfish remains in effect for all of the
Galveston Bay System.
To view the map, advisories and other information about fish testing, go to
www.dshs.state.tx.us/seafood.
-30-
(News Media Contact: Christine Mann, DSHS Assistant Press Officer,
512-776-7511.)
News Release
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
GULF OF MEXICO 2013 DON'T EAT THE FISH MERCURY WARNING
flounder float white side up in Galveston Bay
TSS
No comments:
Post a Comment