eat fish, choose wisely: a guide to triangle fishing sites
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What’s Inside? Most fish are safe to eat, but some found in local Triangle-area waters are pollutedwith dangerous chemicals. Look inside fora map of local fishing sites and informationto protect your and your family’s health.
Eat Fish, Choose Wisely
Created by the UNC Superfund Research Program with support in part from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (Grant #P42ES005948)
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Family Guide to EatingLocally-Caught Fish
DANGER!
carpFish are an important part of a healthy diet — choose wisely.
Most fish are safe to eat, butsome contain dangerouschemicals (mercury orpolychlorinated biphenyls,[PCBs]). These chemicals can build up in fish thatlive for a long time and eat other fish. The chemicalsenter your body when you eat polluted fish.
PCBs and mercury have no odor or color —you can’t tell if a fish is polluted with PCBs ormercury by looking at, smelling or tasting it. PCBs and mercury are especially dangerous forwomen ages 15 to 44 and children under 15, who should avoid fish from polluted areas.
¥ PCBs build up in the body and may cause cancer in humans.
¥ Mercury builds up in the body and can harm the brain and kidneys.
¥ Mothers can pass PCBs and mercury to their unborn children during pregnancy and to an infant through breast milk.
¥ PCB and mercury exposure can harm the brainof a baby or young child.
¥ Babies born to women who eat high levels ofPCBs and mercury can have low birth weight.
Why are children at greater risk?
Children’s bodies are still developing, and anamount of a chemical that would not harm an adult can harm a child. Women, particularly those
who are thinking about becoming pregnant, should reduce their mercuryand PCB exposure.
The recommended serving of fish for an adult is 6 ounces, about thesize of the palm of your hand. Give children smaller servings.
Mercury builds up in organs and PCBsbuild up in fat. These chemicals remainin the fish when it’s cooked whole.The fillet is the least-contaminatedpart of the fish. Eating only the skin-less fillet reduces your exposure toPCBs and mercury.
WHAT IS ASERVING?
?
ADULT SERVING
ONLY EAT THESKINLESS FILLET.
WHY
catfish
largemouthbass
These fish may contain thehighest levels of chemicals.See map on back for details.
CHILD SERVING
Why is this water contaminated?
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Some waters throughout North Carolinaare polluted with mercury. Electric power generation and incinerators put mercury into the air, where it either falls directly into bodies of water or washes into rivers and lakes when it rains. PCBs are in Triangle-area waters
result of pollution from commercial activities, such as the Ward Transformer uperfund site, a former industrial facility. Pay attention to state advisories on PCBs, mercury, and other chemicals and to local catch-and-release policies.
Visit www.EatFishWisely.org for more information.
www.EatFishWisely.org
Catfish and Largemouth Bass:Children and women ages 15 to 44 should never eat this from here. Everyone else caneat 1 serving per month fromthis location.
Most* other fish: Children andwomen ages 15 to 44 can eat up to 2 servings per week. Everyone else can eat up to 4 servings per week.
Largemouth Bass: Children andwomen ages 15 to 44 shouldnever eat this from any locationin North Carolina. Everyone elsecan eat 1 serving per monthfrom this location.
Most* other fish: Eat up to 1 serving per month.
BRIER CREEK, LITTLE BRIER CREEK, & BRIER CREEK RESERVOIR
Do not eat ANY fish from here.LAKE CRABTREE & CRABTREE CREEK BELOW DAM
Catfish and Carp: Never eatfrom here.
CRABTREE CREEK
Carp: Never eat more than 1 serving per month from here.
OTHER LOCATIONS ON THE MAP
*STATEWIDE AND REGIONAL: MERCURYAcross North Carolina, children and women ages 15 to 44 should never eat largemouth bass or other fish highin mercury caught in the state. All other people should eat only one meal per week of these fish.Southeast of I-85, catfish (wild-caught), blackfish (bowfin), jack fish (chain pickerel), warmouth and yellowperch are high in mercury and should never be eaten by women ages 15 to 44 or children. All other peopleshould eat only one meal per week.Why these fish? These and other high-mercury fish live a long time and eat many smaller fish, allowing chemi-cals to build up to high levels in their bodies.Visit www.EatFishWisely.org for a complete list of high-mercury fish.
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A Guide to Triangle Fishing Sites
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Fish Advisories for Map Locations
EAT FISH, CHOOSE WISELY • EAT FISH, CHOOSE WISELY • EAT FISH, CHOOSE WISELY • EAT FISH, CHOOSE WISELY • EAT FISH, CHOOSE WISELY • EAT FISH, CHOOSE WISELY
Catfish and Largemouth Bass:Children and women ages 15 to 44 should never eat this from here. Everyone else caneat 1 serving per week.
Most* other fish: Children andwomen ages 15 to 44 can eatup to 2 servings per week.Everyone else can eat up to 4 servings per week.
Note: Lake Crabtree County Park enforces a catch-and-release only policy from these waters.
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