FISH MERCURY ADVISORY REVISED FOR EAST LAKE, NEWBERRY CRATER, DESCHUTES COUNTY

JULY 9, 1996

Contact Persons: Dave Stone, Oregon Health Services, (503) 731-4015
Al Smith, Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, (503) 872-5252 ext. 5426
Eugene Foster, Department of Environmental Quality, (503) 229-6982
Roger Everett, Deschutes County Env. Health, (541) 388-6575

News: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(PORTLAND)--State Health Officials today released a revised fish consumption advisory for fish caught in East Lake, a popular fishing resort in Newberry Crater in central Oregon. The first advisory was issued in June 1994. It was revised in March 1995, and is being revised again based on new and additional fish testing that shows the average mercury levels to be higher than had been found earlier. The most recent testing was of fish caught in October 1995, said Ken Kauffman of the state Health Services's Environmental Toxicology Section today. There is no reason to believe that mercury levels in the fish are increasing rapidly, they report, we believe we are just getting more accurate data about the overall fish population as our testing continues.

The new advisory continues the recommendation that brown trout 16 inches or longer not be used for human food at all.

Consumption of brown trout smaller than 16", and all fish of other species from East Lake should be limited as follows:

1. Children six (6) years old and younger should not consume more than one 4-ounce meal of fish every 10 weeks (no more than 5 meals per year);

2. Children older than six years, women of child-bearing age, pregnant women, and nursing mothers should not consume more than one 8-ounce meal every six weeks (no more than 8 meals per year);
3. Healthy adult males and women past the age of child-bearing should eat no more than one 8-ounce meal every 10 days (no more than 33 meals per year).

These new recommendations are based on the finding that the average mercury level in fish tested to date is slightly above 1 ppm. Also, these recommendations take into account recent changes in the "safe level" recommendations of the US Environmental Protection Agency for organic mercury in food fish.

The source of the mercury in the fish from East Lake appears to be natural soils, rocks and artesian springs feeding the lake. Because fishing at East Lake is a popular activity, Oregon agencies encourage catch-and-release or trophy fishing, particularly for the larger, older specimens of any species. Large brown trout have been found to contain mercury levels approaching 3 ppm.

Since the form of mercury found in fish tissue is dispersed throughout the edible tissue, it is not possible to reduce exposure by cleaning and preparation techniques, or by cooking, brining, smoking, freezing or other processes. The only means of limiting exposure is to reduce the amount of fish consumed.

Health officials stress that persons most sensitive to mercury effects are developing fetuses, breast-fed infants, pregnant women and children younger than six years. Fish mercury causes brain and nerve injury in these susceptible people. Ingested mercury is slowly excreted by the body over time, but injury can occur while the body loads are elevated. Because elimination of mercury from the body is very slow, exposure to relatively low levels over an extended time period can be harmful.

This advisory is based on all test data available to date, including the fish testing done in 1994 and 1995. Collection and testing of the fish was done by Oregon DEQ and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. <BR