Warning Issued About Fish Caught In These Minnesota Bodies Of Water
Minnesota is the Land of 10,000 Lakes but there's a new warning about eating fish caught in several bodies of water here in the Bold North.
Seeing as eating fish is something many Minnesotans like to do-- as well as catching them on one of our 10,000 Lakes-- this new warning from the Minnesota Department of Health is a little alarming.
It concerns fish caught in two specific bodies of water in the Twin Cities metro area, and how certain people should avoid eating them due to increased levels of pollutants. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), with support from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) issued the new warning on July 31st, 2023. It states:
MDH, DNR and MPCA recommend that certain people avoid eating fish caught in two water bodies in the Twin Cities metro area, due to new data showing a mixture of pollutants including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the fish. Those water bodies are the Mississippi River from the Ford Dam in St. Paul to Hastings Dam (known as Pool 2) and Lake Rebecca near Hastings.
Now while eating a large amount of any of those substances over a long period of time isn't a good idea for everyone, the MDH alert said Minnesotans who should specifically avoid eating fish from these locations include children under age 15 and those who are or could become pregnant along with those who are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
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MDH Assistant Commissioner Dan Huff explained more in the alert: "The updated fish consumption guidance for Lake Rebecca and Pool 2 applies only to higher-risk populations at this time. It’s important to note that with PFAS, the risk is based on long-term exposure, not the kind of short-term exposure you might have from a few meals."
You can read more about this alert and how it could impact your health HERE. MDH also listed a few alternative places where you might want to go fishing instead, noting that the Lower St. Croix River (south of Stillwater), Lake Nokomis, Rogers Lake, Bald Eagle Lake and White Bear Lake are all great places to fish, and all are still located in the Twin Cities metro area.
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