State health officials say anyone eating fish that was caught in the Columbia Slough needs to be careful.
A new advisory says resident fish, those that spend their whole lives in the slough, may be contaminated with high levels of PCBs.
This includes species such as, carp, black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, and sunfish. The warning doesn’t apply to salmon and steelhead – migratory fish who may be found in the slough but don’t spend much time in it.
The warning says eating Columbia Slough fish should be limited to two portions a month. It’s also recommended that you prepare the fish in a way that eliminates most of the fat. PCBs and other toxins are concentrated in the fatty tissues.
Health officials say PCBs are especially harmful to babies and can damage their brains and nervous systems. They also recommend that children and women aged 18 to 45 follow this advice carefully.
The Slough is an area of wetlands and channels off the Columbia River that runs from Fairview to where the Columbia meets the Willamette. It travels near the airport and through some of the most heavily industrial areas of Portland.
For a complete list of fish advisories around the state see: Oregon Fish Advisories & Health Alerts
