Fish Consumption Advisory
Many anglers enjoy fishing in Illinois waters. They also enjoy eating their catch. Most fish are healthy to eat and provide an excellent source of low-fat protein. Eating fish may also reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other chronic illnesses.
However, any fish (store-bought or sport-caught) could contain contaminants that can harm human health. The Illinois EPA working jointly with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources routinely monitor water quality and fish flesh contamination in our lakes and streams and the Illinois Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program screens fish tissue for potential problems.
Just as in the rest of the nation, certain fish in and around Illinois contain levels of contaminants that may pose a risk to human health. Based upon the results of IEPA tissue testing, the Illinois Department of Public Health issues fish consumption advisories for those fish, telling people to either limit consumption or avoid eating those kinds of fish. The advisories are based primarily on protecting sensitive populations, most particularly women who are pregnant, nursing, or of childbearing age; fetuses; and children younger than 15 years of age. All advisories may be overprotective for women beyond childbearing age and males 15 years of age and older.
