Some Fish Unsafe To Eat From 3 King County Lakes: DOH

OLYMPIA, WA — Several varieties of fish in three King County lakes have high levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and are unsafe to eat, according to the state Department of Health. PFOS are part of the broader family of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as "forever chemicals," which research has shown can harm humans and animals.

Risk levels depend on several variables, including the amount, frequency and duration of exposure to the chemicals, along with each person's age, lifestyle and overall health.

According to the DOH, the presence of PFAS in the body can:

• Interfere with your immune system and make some vaccinations less effective.
• Increase your risk for:
  • Kidney cancer
  • A lower birth weight for your baby
  • High cholesterol
  • Other cancers (like testicular cancer)
  • Thyroid disease
  • High blood pressure during pregnancy, and other reproductive issues

Officials issued a fish consumption advisory Wednesday, recommending residents avoid or significantly reduce consumption of multiple types of fish from Lake Washington, Lake Sammamish and Lake Meridian. DOH said many should be avoided altogether, while some can be eaten in small amounts.

Here is the breakdown:

• Lake Washington (Lake Washington has existing advisories for PCBs and mercury. DOH is now adding recommendations for PFOS.)
  • Common Carp: Do not eat
  • Cutthroat Trout: Do not eat
  • Largemouth Bass: Do not eat
  • Smallmouth Bass: Do not eat
  • Northern Pikeminnow: Do not eat
  • Yellow Perch: Up to 1 meal* per month
  • Brown Bullhead: Up to 4 meals per month
  • Pumpkinseed: Healthy choice
  • Rainbow Trout: Healthy choice
  • Sockeye Salmon: Healthy choice
• Lake Sammamish:
• Largemouth Bass: Do not eat
• Northern Pikeminnow: Do not eat
• Yellow Perch: Up to 1 meal per month
• Smallmouth Bass: Up to 2 meals per month
• Brown Bullhead: Healthy choice
• Lake Meridian:
  • Northern Pikeminnow: Do not eat
  • Smallmouth Bass: Do not eat
  • Yellow Perch: Up to 1 meal per month
  • Largemouth Bass: Up to 1 meal per month
  • Kokanee: Up to 2 meals per month
  • Brown Bullhead: Healthy choice

The health department plans to post fish advisory signs at each of the lakes affected before the spring fishing season begins. Officials said no other PFOS advisories were in place for other lakes in Washington.

Over the weekend, The Seattle Times reported that elevated levels of PFAS pollution have been identified in more than a dozen drinking water systems in the state, including in Lakewood.

Residents can learn more about "forever chemicals" in fish on the Department of Health website.