Read the full article by Whitney Pipkin (Bay Journal)
“The District of Columbia’s environmental health agency has issued its first fish consumption advisory based on the presence of PFAS, or ‘forever chemicals,’ in fish caught in the rivers running through the nation’s capital. The advisory warns people who eat fish caught from portions of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers within the district to consider eating less or none of certain fish.
Issued in December, the advisory is based on fish tissue studies conducted by the district’s Department of Energy and Environment. For the first time, these studies tested for the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in addition to looking for PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), metals and certain pesticides. PCBs are also considered a ‘chemical of concern’ in fish tissues taken from these same water bodies.
The group of synthetic substances known as PFAS are called forever chemicals because they do not break down in the environment. Instead, much like other chemicals that can be toxic to both humans and the environment, they tend to accumulate over time. Long-term exposure to PFAS, including by consuming foods containing the chemicals, can pose health risks such as cancer, liver problems and decreased immunity.” …