Sunday, April 12, 2009 — Alcoa Power Generating Inc. (APGI) took exception with the Consumption Advisory issued in February by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services for fish caught in Badin Lake.
The study of 30 fish taken from three areas of the lake found fish containing PCBs above acceptable levels in both largemouth bass and catfish.
In addition to a number of adverse medical issues, PCBs have been identified as a possible carcinogen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The advisory recommended eating of catfish and largemouth bass be limited to once per week for adults.
This warning came in addition to a statewide mercury alert warning women who are pregnant, or of child-bearing age, and children under 15 to not eat largemouth bass.
In a statement from APGI says: “While APGI respects the Department of Health’s duty and desire to protect public health and inform the public of risks, it has appeal-ed the advisory because the State changed its stated evaluation criteria after the study was complete and held Badin Lake to a different standard than other lakes and rivers in North Carolina.
“Specifically, the State has never before issued a fish advisory based on the findings in a single fish with slightly elevated levels, but that's exactly what it did with largemouth bass in Badin Lake. And, the State has monitored similar levels of chemicals or contamination in fish tissue caught in other waterways in North Caro-lina, but has not issued a fish advisory in those instances.
“The failure to use consistent evaluation criteria calls into question the confidence the public will place in fish advisories issued by the State.”
When questioned at the Feb. 11 hearing on the study’s impact on Alcoa’s water relicensing efforts, Sandy Mort of the NC Division of Public Health responded: “You design a study to answer specific questions. This study took a health stance and answered the safety of eating the fish, not the source of the PCBs.”
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APGI speaks out on fish consumption advisory
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