What will NYS do next after report shows freshwater fish have more PFAS than store bought? (video)

A nationwide study has found that freshwater fish are hundreds of times more contaminated with PFAS chemicals than store-bought fish. In exclusive reporting this week, Environmental Reporter Peter Mantius dug into the available data.

One specific PFAS chemical, PFOS, accumulates dangerously in freshwater fish, which then quickly enters the bloodstream of anglers who eat their contaminated catches.

People who consume fish caught in the Finger Lakes area lack the necessary data to weigh the risks they are taking, and the state Department of Health does not provide adequate warnings about PFAS risks.

Although federal alarms about the health risks of PFAS chemicals are growing increasingly dire, more than 30 states in the U.S. do not provide any warnings about PFAS in fish. The Environmental Working Group claims that people who consume freshwater fish, especially those who catch and eat fish regularly, are at risk of alarming levels of PFAS in their bodies.

We caught up with Peter to discuss the implications of his reporting and what the state says about it.

FULL STORY: PFAS levels in freshwater fish ‘staggering’, but Finger Lakes anglers aren’t getting the message

Staff Report

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