Are enough fish being collected and tested in order to generate trustworthy advisories?
Fish contaminant levels vary widely depending on the fish species and the location within the Detroit River. On the U.S. side, only five species of sport fish from two locations were tested over the past ten years in sufficient numbers to provide a robust estimate of PCB levels. The well-tested fish species include yellow perch, walleye, sucker, carp and northern pike. Researchers recommend that more sport fish be tested from US waters. What are contaminant levels in fish species not currently tested? Based on the average size, diet and habits of different fish species, the model predicted that bluegill, brown bullhead and largemouth bass should be relatively safe to eat, but channel catfish should be avoided all together. In general, bottom-feeding fish, species with a lot of oil in their tissue, and larger fish tend to accumulate more PCBs. Where are the biggest sources of fish contaminants in the Detroit River basin? Results from the Hazard Assessment Model indicate that on the U.S.
