Fish consumption advisory issued for Chickahominy Watershed after contaminants found in fish

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has issued a fish consumption advisory for the Chickahominy Watershed, effective immediately.

In the afternoon of Friday, May 9, VDH issued a fish consumption advisory for the Chickahominy Watershed due to elevated perfluorooctane sulfonate, or PFOS, levels in specific fish species.

Officials said fish tissue samples, which were collected from November 2021 through September 2023, showed elevated PFOS levels in certain fish species, which exceeded the amount considered safe for long-term human consumption.

According to VDH, the affected species include creek chubsucker, chain pickerel, largemouth bass and sunfish.

The department advises people to eat no more than two fish meals per month from the Chickahominy River, and advises against eating any of the specified fish meals from White Oak Swamp.

The table below shows the recommended consumption for each fish, per VDH:

The advisory is for the Chickahominy River/Lake, White Oak Swamp and all tributaries, with the extension of the advisory for each body of water as follows:

• For the Chickahominy River, the advisory extends from the confluence of the Chickahominy River with the James River, upstream to the State Route 360 bridge at the Henrico-Hanover County line near Mechanicsville.
• For the White Oak Swamp, the advisory extends from the confluence of White Oak Swamp and the Chickahominy River, upstream to the headwaters of White Oak Swamp and White Oak Swamp Creek near the Richmond International Airport.

According to officials, the health effects of PFOS exposure can include increased cholesterol or changes in liver enzymes. It can also lower the antibody response to some vaccines. It can cause pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, and a decrease in birth weight.

Children and women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant have an increased health risk. Nursing mothers and young children should not eat fish from this advisory area.

VDH said fish consumption advisories alert people to contaminants present in affected fish species, but do not prohibit people from eating fish.

As of the time of reporting, officials said this advisory area does not pose a health risk for recreational activities, therefore, swimming, water skiing and boating can continue in the areas listed under the advisory.

According to VDH, cleaning or cooking fish does not remove or reduce PFOS. To reduce potential harmful effects, the department recommends the following precautions:

• Eat smaller, younger fish -- within the legal limits. Younger fish are less likely to contain harmful levels of contaminants.
• Eat fewer or smaller servings of fish.
• Try to eat different species of fish from a variety of sources. For example, different creeks, rivers and streams.

For more information, visit the VDH Fish Consumption Advisory page.