Health Officials to Detroiters: Watch What Fish You Eat from the River
MDHHS is offering safe fish consumption guidelines for Detroiters who eat fish from the Detroit River.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is urging people to watch the amount of fish they consume from the Detroit River.
A study conducted by the department shows that people who ate two meals a month with fish from the river had higher levels of mercury and PCB in their blood than participants in a study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Angela Minicuci, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, says consumers should pay attention to chemical levels but shouldn’t be too worried about poisoning.
“The important thing to keep in mind is that it’s not like as soon as you eat the fish, you’re going to run into instantly being poisoned,” Minicuci says. “Part of what this study looked at was the over time, how much people were consuming and that build up within their bodies.”
Recommended guidelines for consumption may be found at the “Eat Safe Fish” section on the department’s website.
