The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality will issue a new type of advisory about consuming fish caught in some parts of the state.
That’s because recent data indicated higher levels of PFAS, or forever chemicals.
The advisories fall under three categories: safe to follow standard EPA and FDA guidelines, limited consumption, and do not eat. It’s the second contaminant the state will be monitoring, alongside mercury.
PFAS have been linked to cancer and other health problems.
While the department’s map doesn’t currently list any PFAS advisories, they could start in the next few weeks. Erin Jordan with ADEQ is overseeing the program. It will specifically focus on PFOS, a type of PFAS.
“It's really to empower our anglers out in the community, give them those decision-making tools to determine what they want to eat from what they catch in our environment," Jordan said.
Jordan says the early data results are showing some fish with do-not-eat levels, but did not say which lake that fish came from.
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