Fish from Illinois River not in 'Do Not Eat' advisory for first time since 70's - HOI ABC

(Heart of Illinois ABC) -- There is no longer a "Do Not Eat" advisory for fish in the Illinois River, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

This comes for the first time since the 1970s because of declining PCB concentrations.

According to a release however, the continued prevalence of methylmercury is responsible for new or more restrictive advisories in Illinois waters.

Fish consumption advisories are based primarily on protecting sensitive populations, including women of childbearing age, pregnant women, fetuses, nursing mothers, and children younger than 15 years of age. 

While there is no known immediate health hazard from eating contaminated fish from any Illinois water body, there are concerns about the effects of long-term, low-level exposure to chlordane, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and methylmercury in fish.

In addition to this year’s updates, a statewide methylmercury advisory remains in place for all Illinois waters that have not been sampled by the Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program.

The statewide methylmercury advisory cautions sensitive populations to eat no more than one meal per week of predatory fish, which pose a greater risk because they feed on other fish and accumulate higher amounts of methylmercury.  Predatory fish include all species of black bass and gar, as well as striped bass, white bass, hybrid striped bass, walleye, sauger, saugeye, flathead catfish, muskellunge, and northern pike.

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Fish from Illinois River not in 'Do Not Eat' advisory for first time since 70's - HOI ABC
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