News
Release
Sept.
29, 2016
The Texas Department of State Health Services today issued a revised fish consumption advisory for Ellison Creek Reservoir, also known as Lone Star Lake, due to unsafe levels of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs.
DSHS tested tissue samples from fish as part of a re-evaluation of the lake. Concentrations of dioxins and PCBs in channel catfish, common carp, flathead catfish, hybrid striped bass, largemouth bass, spotted gar, sunfish and white bass continue to exceed DSHS guidelines for protection
of human health.
DSHS recommends people limit or avoid consumption of these species as outlined in the table below because eating contaminated fish can be a health hazard.
| Contaminants of Concern |
Species |
Women of childbearing age and children under 121 |
Women past childbearing age and males 12 and older2 |
| Dioxins and PCBs |
Channel catfish |
DO NOT EAT |
1 meal/month |
| Common carp |
DO NOT EAT |
DO NOT EAT |
| Flathead catfish |
DO NOT EAT |
1 meal/month |
| Hybrid striped bass |
DO NOT EAT |
DO NOT EAT |
| Largemouth bass |
1 meal/month |
2 meals/month |
| Spotted gar |
DO NOT EAT |
1 meal/month |
| Sunfish species (Bluegill, Green, Redbreast) |
DO NOT EAT |
1 meal/month |
| White bass |
DO NOT EAT |
2 meals/month |
1 A meal is four ounces of fish.
2 A meal is eight ounces of fish.
DSHS removed the consumption advisory for bowfin and crappie from Ellison Creek Reservoir because testing indicated that concentrations of dioxins and PCBs have decreased to acceptable levels and no longer pose a significant health risk.
To view the map, advisories and other information about fish testing, go to
www.dshs.state.tx.us/seafood.
-30-
(News Media Contact:
Christine Mann , DSHS Press
Officer, 512-776-7511.)
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