Fish Advisory

Department of Ecology News Release -
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 20, 2000
00-109
Spokane River fish advisory issued
SPOKANE- Parents are being advised to avoid feeding their young children
whole fish caught in the upper Spokane River and to limit their children's
consumption of fish fillets.
Officials from the Washington departments of Ecology (Ecology) and Health
(DOH) and the Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) are announcing the new
fish advisory after concluding a study of Spokane River fish samples that
were collected last summer and fall.
Toxicologists from Ecology and DOH analyzed data on zinc, cadmium and lead
levels in fish in order to evaluate potential human health risks associated
with eating the fish.
Eating fish fillets from the Spokane River does not pose a health threat for
most people, according to the advisory.
"However, people who eat meals made from whole fish, especially children and
pregnant women, are at greater risk than people who eat only fish fillets,"
said Mike LaScuola of the SRHD.
"Lead is the metal we are concerned about," said John Roland of Ecology's
Spokane office. "Elevated levels of lead can be especially harmful to
children because it can cause changes in their behavior and reduce their
ability to learn."
Tests have shown higher levels of metals in whole fish than in the fillet
meat, especially in suckers. At each location where samples were taken,
whole-body samples of suckers had equal or higher levels of lead than the
whole-body trout.
"The physiology, feeding patterns and long life-cycle probably contribute to
a sucker's higher accumulation of metals," Roland explained.
"Considering the level of lead we found in the fillets and the information
we have on the amount and type of fish that most people eat, we wouldn't
expect to see any adverse health effects attributable to eating the fillets
of Spokane River fish," said LaScuola.
However, he said, people who frequently eat whole fish caught from the area
might be at risk. Children and pregnant women should be especially careful.
Children and the fetuses of pregnant women are more sensitive because they
are growing rapidly and absorb more lead than adults.
Advised consumption limits for children and pregnant women are available in
the health advisory. Call the SRHD at 509-324-1560 to request a copy.
In 1998, the SRHD conducted a survey along the upper Spokane River to
identify the communities of people who ate fish from the river.
"Some people eat whole fish often enough to cause us some concern," LaScuola
said. "That's why we intend to dedicate resources to informing these people
about the risk."
In the fall of 1998 and February 1999, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
studied river sediments to find out the extent of contamination from
historic mining practices in North Idaho. The sampling survey found elevated
levels of cadmium, zinc and lead in some sediment along the upper Spokane
River.
Similarly, Ecology studied the water itself along the same stretch of river
and has repeatedly found higher levels of metals than in most other rivers
in the state.
The results of the studies, including the most recent fish study, are being
incorporated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency into the "remedial
investigation and feasibility study" on Idaho's mining district down to
Washington's Lake Roosevelt. The study will characterize the extent of
contamination and potential human health risks and ecological damages
attributable to historic mining practices.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Washington Citizens Advisory Committee on mining
pollution in the Spokane/ Coeur d'Alene watershed will hear the results of
the fish study at the committee's meeting on Thursday, June 22, at 7 p.m. at
Ecology's office at Wellesley and Monroe streets in Spokane.
Media contact: Jani Gilbert, Public Information Manager, 509-456-4464;
pager, 509-622-1289
For more information:
Department of Ecology Web site for data summary -
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/spo_riv/spo_riv.htm

Department of Health Web site for fish advisory-
http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/oehas/default.htm

SRHD Web site for fish consumption survey-- www.spokanecounty.org/health

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