DSHS Revises Fish Consumption Advisories for Houston and Galveston Area Waters
News Release
June 26, 2013
The Texas Department of State Health Services has issued revised fish consumption advisories for certain Texas waters. The following advisories are in effect:
San Jacinto River – Houston Ship Channel: People should limit or avoid the consumption of all species of fish and blue crab from the Houston Ship Channel, the San Jacinto River below the Lake Houston Dam and all contiguous waters north of Highway 146. The advisory was issued after laboratory testing of fish and blue crab from the San Jacinto River and Houston Ship Channel indicated that concentrations of dioxins, pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs exceeded DSHS health guidelines. Regular or long-term consumption of fish or blue crab from these waters may increase the likelihood of long-term health risks.
Women of childbearing age and children under 12 years old should not consume any species of fish or blue crab taken from the San Jacinto River and Houston Ship Channel. Women past childbearing age and adult men should consume no more than one meal per month.
Galveston Bay: DSHS has removed the consumption advisory for spotted seatrout from a portion of Galveston and Trinity Bays and all of East and West Bays. The area is south of a line from Red Bluff Point to Five-Mile Cut Marker to Houston Point. Laboratory testing of spotted seatrout from these areas indicated that concentrations of dioxins and PCBs have decreased to acceptable levels and no longer pose a significant health risk.
Upper Galveston Bay: Consumption of spotted seatrout from the Upper Galveston Bay continues to pose a health risk and the advisory remains in effect for this area. Concentrations of dioxins and PCBs exceed DSHS health guidelines. Regular or long-term consumption of spotted seatrout from these waters may result in adverse health effects. An advisory also remains in effect for blue crab from this area.
Women of childbearing age and children under 12 years old should not consume spotted seatrout from Upper Galveston Bay. Women past childbearing age and adult men are advised to consume no more than one meal per month. Upper Galveston Bay includes the portion of the Galveston Bay estuary north of a line from Red Bluff Point to Five-Mile Cut Marker to Houston Point.
An advisory for all species of catfish remains in effect for all of the Galveston Bay System.
To view the map, advisories and other information about fish testing, go to www.dshs.state.tx.us/seafood.
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(News Media Contact: Christine Mann, DSHS Assistant Press Officer, 512-776-7511.)
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