New Fish Types Added To Lake Quinsigamond Advisory Over PFAS

WORCESTER, MA — A do-not-eat advisory over fish in Lake Quinsigamond first issued two years ago has recently been updated to include a new class of fish.

The state Department of Public Health in 2022 issued a do-not-eat advisory after fish at 13 bodies of water across the state were found to contain high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS.

Under the original advisory, DPH did not include stocked fish, but now does. DPH initially exempted fish grown in hatcheries because their exposure to PFAS was thought to be limited.

Anyone who catches fish in the lake from either the Worcester or Shrewsbury side should avoid eating fish. The specific guidance advise anyone under age 12, and pregnant and nursing women, to limit fish consumption to one meal every six months. For everyone else, the advice is one meal every two months. The state has not issued any warnings about swimming in the lake, and says sport fishing is safe.

PFAS chemicals are common, having been used for years as coatings in items like nonstick pans and waterproof jackets. The chemicals are so widely used, they have leeched into water bodies and water supplies across the state.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PFAS chemicals can have a range of health effects, from reduced antibody response to vaccines, to life-threatening conditions like preeclampsia in pregnant women.

The DPH PFAS fishing advisory also includes Ashland Reservoir, the Chicopee Reservoir in Chicopee, Lake Cochituate in Natick, Dennison Lake in Winchendon, Dunn Pond in Gardner, Fearing Pond in Plymouth, Houghtons Pond in Milton, Pearce Lake in Saugus, Pequot Pond in Westfield, Walden Pond, Wallum Lake in Douglas and Watsons Pond in Taunton.