09-16-2010, 10:08 PM
[quote tubeN2]That is a very good article. I must add to it as well something that was omited.
In some areas where the PCBs are highest, it is best to stay away from any ground feeding or bottom feeding species. They are the ones that tend to ingest more of the harmful PCBs and Mercury.
If you must eat them, limit your intake on them and also avoid eating the Head, Fins and fatty parts of the fish. Most of the toxins are stored there on the fish.
You are safest to go with the Paelagic species such as your Tunas, Jacks, Yellowtails, Pacific Barracuda (Not the Atlantic species) as well as the ones that feed strictly on the Sardines and Mackerals.[cool][/quote]
That's a real issue where I live. The Chicago river systems (such as the Des Plaines, Fox, and Chicago Rivers) are notorious for their levels of pollutants. Though the rivers are remarkably cleaner than in the past, they are not always safe to eat from. This is because the cities have cleaned up their areas while the the farmlands the rivers cut through still use pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals.
I've caught fish in the Des Plaines and I can personally say that it is much safer to fish the preserves (even though the limit is lower). I remember fishing near a farm and being amazed at how many bullheads were being caught (6-8 or so). Bullhead are tenacious critters capable of surving high levels of pollutants.
Soon, I discovered why there were so many bullheads. The other fish had most likely been erradicated by the toxins festering in that stretch of the river. When I finally caught a channel cat, it took 5 minutes to identify the fish after landing it. Its barbels were mostly sered off and its skin was faded in color. Its mouth was turquoise. Practically bleeding turquoise. I don't fish there anymore.
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In some areas where the PCBs are highest, it is best to stay away from any ground feeding or bottom feeding species. They are the ones that tend to ingest more of the harmful PCBs and Mercury.
If you must eat them, limit your intake on them and also avoid eating the Head, Fins and fatty parts of the fish. Most of the toxins are stored there on the fish.
You are safest to go with the Paelagic species such as your Tunas, Jacks, Yellowtails, Pacific Barracuda (Not the Atlantic species) as well as the ones that feed strictly on the Sardines and Mackerals.[cool][/quote]
That's a real issue where I live. The Chicago river systems (such as the Des Plaines, Fox, and Chicago Rivers) are notorious for their levels of pollutants. Though the rivers are remarkably cleaner than in the past, they are not always safe to eat from. This is because the cities have cleaned up their areas while the the farmlands the rivers cut through still use pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals.
I've caught fish in the Des Plaines and I can personally say that it is much safer to fish the preserves (even though the limit is lower). I remember fishing near a farm and being amazed at how many bullheads were being caught (6-8 or so). Bullhead are tenacious critters capable of surving high levels of pollutants.
Soon, I discovered why there were so many bullheads. The other fish had most likely been erradicated by the toxins festering in that stretch of the river. When I finally caught a channel cat, it took 5 minutes to identify the fish after landing it. Its barbels were mostly sered off and its skin was faded in color. Its mouth was turquoise. Practically bleeding turquoise. I don't fish there anymore.
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