Fish Advisories Updated: Anglers Warned Not To Eat Fish From Shenango River In Lawrence, Mercer Counties

The departments of Agriculture, Environmental Protection, and Health Monday along with the Fish and Boat Commission announced a “DO NOT EAT” advisory for all fish species caught in the Shenango River in Mercer and Lawrence Counties due to extremely high levels of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB).

This specific warning is included in the 2017 update of Fish Consumption Advisories across the state that saw the addition of these streams and lakes to the advisory--

-- Bucks County: Lake Towhee

-- Clinton County: Little Pine Creek

-- Delaware County: Chester Creek

-- Potter County: Lyman Run Reservoir

-- Sullivan County: Lopez Pond

-- Warren County: Chapman Dam Reservoir

Trout stocked from Fish & Boat Commission state fish hatcheries are subject to the blanket one-meal-per-week consumption advisory that applies to recreationally caught sport fish in Pennsylvania.

The Shenango River advisory extends to all fish between the Shenango Lake Dam and the mouth of the Shenango River in New Castle, PA.

DEP is currently investigating possible sources of the PCB contamination.

“The levels found in the tissue samples are extremely high, and DEP will be investigating to find the source of this contamination,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “DEP will work with EPA and others to determine the sources of this contamination and how to remediate it.

"PCBs are a class of chemical compounds that are hazardous to the health of fish and humans so anglers are strongly encouraged to avoid consuming any species of fish that are caught in this reach of the Shenango River,” said PFBC Executive Director John Arway. “We are very concerned about the fate and effects of PCBs since they have an extremely long environmental half-life and will remain in the river for decades if not properly cleaned up and disposed of."

A “DO NOT EAT” advisory was already in effect for the river for muskellunge, carp, and channel catfish, and the new advisory now includes all other game fish like smallmouth and largemouth bass, bluegill, and walleye.

PCBs have been shown to cause a wide range of adverse health effects and cancer. There are a number of serious non-cancer health effects in animals including effects on immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, endocrine system and other organs.

Tissue samples taken from fish found some levels of PCB to be more than 22 mg/kg in smallmouth bass, which is more than 10 times the “NO CONSUMPTION” advisory level of 1.9 mg/kg.

The Fish and Boat Commission will not stock trout in Shenango River Section 04 until further notice. The agency will continue to work to identify another nearby waterbody to provide recreational trout fishing opportunities for anglers.

DEP has contacted the public water suppliers that withdraw water from this area of the river. These water suppliers have been conducting annual monitoring for PCBs.

None of the monitoring—including samples collected earlier this year—showed any presence of PCBs in the water itself. These systems have agreed to increase the frequency of monitoring to quarterly to ensure ongoing compliance with the drinking water standards for PCBs.

For more information on fish consumption advisories, visit DEP’s 2017 Fish Consumption Advisory webpage.  Click Here for a list of streams, lakes and ponds covered by the 2017 advisory noting additions and changes.

Click Here for advice on cleaning fish to limit PCB exposure. (photo)