Fish Toxicology

Environmental challenges in the Adirondacks range from obvious sources of environmental degradation such as logging, to less direct forms of environmental degradation such as the effect of acid rain on lakes and streams. I did not find these two trends surprising given that they are directly related to the industry in this region. However, I came across a brochure entitled "Adirondack Region: Health Advice on Eating Fish You Catch", which details the fish that are safe for recreational fishers to consume given the chemicals that are present in their tissues. Considering that the Adirondacks are relatively isolated from areas of high water pollution and deemed "wild", natural lands, by people who visit them, I was surprised to find that the information in this brochure mirrored that of a brochure from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is located along the central coast of California, an area that is more highly populated than the Adirondacks. Among other efforts to educate the public about the health of the planet's oceans, the aquarium has taken it upon itself to help consumers purchase seafood that is fished or farmed in a sustainable way, and contain low levels of toxic chemicals. The guide subdivides seafood into three categories: best choices, good alternatives and ones that you should avoid. Among the fish that consumers should avoided are those that are farmed using malpractice, and large predatory fish, such as swordfish and sharks. These fish have high levels of toxic metals due to biomagnification, a increased concentration of toxin that results as fish higher on the food chain ingest numerous fish that have lower concentrations of toxins. Although it's alarming to see that so many of our ocean's fish are unsafe to eat, it's not surprising given that our oceans are subject to an unlimited amount of pollutants around the globe. 

However, I was more shocked to find that hundreds of locations within the Adirondacks have some sort of advisory against eating fish from local bodies of water. The Adirondack brochure splits its advisory into three main parts, the first is a statewide general advisory that warns against eating more than four meals a month from fish taken from bodies of water, unless there is even stricter advice against certain waters. The brochure then goes on to issue an advisory specifically for women and children, who are more susceptible to the effects of chemicals found in these fish. These chemicals, such as mercury, which accumulates in water due to industrial activity, can build up in a women's body. She can then pass these acquired chemicals on to her children. Mercury has adverse effects on the nervous system, specifically that of a baby that is still developing. The pamphlet strongly advises against eating largemouth bass, northern pike, pickerel, smallmouth bass, walleye and yellow perch under any conditions due to mercury concentrations.

The pamphlet contains a map with even more specific guidelines that detail the safety of numerous bodies of water in the  Adirondack Region. Big Moose Lake, Indian Lake, Racquet Lake, Lake Champlain and Cranberry Lake are among many other locations that have guidelines such as "up to one meal a month of all species" for men over 15 and women over 50 ("Health Advice on Eating Fish You Catch", New York State Department of Health). The New York Department of Health advises women and children against eating any fish from these waters listed.

I personally find it alarming that a region such as the Adirondacks, known for being pristine, has lakes that are under such toxic conditions. Tourists travel here for clean air and water, an escape from urban life. However, the toxicology of the fish is a strong indicator of the subtle risks this park faces as our population grows and the Adirondacks continue to attract tourists and industries. This threat is not as obvious as that of logging; the effects of mercury cannot be seen by the human eye, but we need to continue to keep water quality in mind, and the relative effect this has on the food chain, as we assess the present health of the Adirondacks. 

*Thank you to Chris Bonsqnet from the writing center for his great advice. 

Sources:

Adirondack Region, Health Advice on Eating Fish You Catch. New York: New York Department of Health, n.d. Print.

"Seafood and Your Health." Monterey Bay Aquarium. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2015. <http://www.seafoodwatch.org/consumers/seafood-and-your-health>.