The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued an updated ‘Do Not Eat’ fish advisory for all fish in the Huron River in Livingston, Oakland, and Washtenaw Counties.
Today’s ‘Do Not Eat’ advisory updates a previous advisory issued in early August relating to PFOS for fish from the Huron River. This clarifies the waterbodies for the ‘Do Not Eat’ fish advisory on Huron River at N. Wixom Rd, including Norton Creek, and downstream to the Huron River at the Livingston/Washtenaw County line. This includes:
- Hubbell Pond, also known as Mill Pond (Oakland County)
- Kent Lake (Oakland County)
- Ore Lake (Livingston County)
- Strawberry & Zukey Lake (Livingston County)
- Gallagher Lake (Livingston County)
- Loon Lake (Livingston County)
- Whitewood Lakes (Livingston County)
- Base Line & Portage Lakes (Livingston/Washtenaw County line)
Fish tested from Kent Lake were found to have high PFOS levels, and the update is to account for recent surface water data showing that fish in an additional area should also be included in the ‘Do Not Eat’ advisory. Fish filets were tested as a result of the state’s PFAS effort. The advisory relates to the state’s work to address perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), as well as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS).
Touching the fish or water and swimming in these water bodies is not considered a health concern as PFAS, which includes PFOS, do not move easily through the skin. An occasional swallow of river or lake water is also not considered a health concern.
MDHHS releases annual Eat Safe Fish Guides in the Spring and emergency advisories as needed. The Eat Safe Fish guidelines are sets to be protective for everyone including children and pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with existing health problems such as cancer or diabetes. Michigan has been routinely testing fish filets for PFAS since 2012.
For current guidelines relating to PFAS fish contamination, visit Michigan.gov/pfasresponse. For more information about the Eat Safe Fish guidelines, visit Michigan.gov/eatsafefish.
