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Health Assessment, Consultation and Education
Medical Evaluation and Risk Assessment
State Laboratory of Public Health
Current Advisories for N.C.
Learn more about lakes and rivers in North Carolina:
For information about the July 2023 Cape Fear River Fish Consumption Advisory, please see the NCDHHS press release.
NCDHHS is hosting two in person community meetings to discuss new freshwater fish advisories for the Middle and Lower Cape Fear River. The first meeting will be held at Bladen County Community College on August 17 from 6:00-8:00 pm. The second meeting will be held at Navassa Community Center on August 22 from 6:00-8:00 pm.
A virtual community meeting will be held on August 24 at 6:00 pm. Prior registration is required to attend the virtual meeting. To register for the virtual meeting please click here. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3096845301251399254
Fish consumption advisories are issued by the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, N.C. Division of Public Health. Learn more about this OEE program. Find current fish advisories for the state of North Carolina and for specific bodies of water in North Carolina. You may also use the Reports by County index to browse all available OEE reports, including fish advisories, hazardous site assessments, and community health studies.
Pollutant: Mercury
Date Issued/Updated: April 2, 2008
Advisory:
Women of Childbearing Age (15-44 years), Pregnant Women, Nursing Women, and Children under 15:
Do not eat fish high in mercury, including largemouth bass caught in the state. Eat up to two meals per week of fish low in mercury. A meal is 6 ounces of uncooked fish for adults, or 2 ounces of uncooked fish for children under 15.
All Other Individuals:
Eat no more than one meal per week of fish high in mercury, including largemouth bass caught in the state. Eat up to four meals per week of fish low in mercury. A meal is 6 ounces of uncooked fish for adults, or 2 ounces of uncooked fish for children under 15.
Affected Fish: Fish high in mercury
Learn more about mercury in fish.
Affected Counties: Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington
Site: Albemarle Sound from Bull Bay to Harvey Point; West to the mouth of the Roanoke River and to the mouth of the Chowan River to the U.S. Highway 17 Bridge
Pollutant: Dioxins
Fish Species: catfish and carp
Date Issued: October 2001
Advisory: Catfish and carp from these waters may contain low levels of dioxins. Women of childbearing age and children should not eat any catfish or carp from this area until further notice. All other persons should eat no more than one meal per month of catfish and carp from this area. Swimming, boating, and other recreational activities present no known significant health risks and are not affected by this advisory.
Affected Counties: Montgomery, Stanly
Pollutants: Mercury, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Fish Species: catfish and largemouth bass
Date Issued: February 11, 2009
Advisory: Elevated levels of chemicals called PCBs, along with mercury, may be found in catfish and largemouth bass in these waters. Pregnant women, women who may become pregnant, and children under 15 should avoid eating catfish and largemouth bass from this lake due to high levels of mercury as well as PCBs. Other people should eat no more than one meal per week of catfish and largemouth bass from this lake.
See the related public health consultation and fish tissue study.
Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.
Affected Counties: Wake
Site: Downstream of Brier Creek Reservoir; See also Lake Crabtree and Little Brier Creek
Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Fish Species: all
Date Issued: May 7, 2004
Advisory: Do not eat any fish from Brier Creek. High levels of PCBs have been found in the fish. Swimming, boating, and other recreational activities present no known significant health risks from PCBs and are not affected by this advisory. PCB-related risks, if any, from these activities have been shown to be negligible. If future testing reveals new information, then new advice will be given and new signs will be issued.
Date Issued: October 6, 2021
Site: Brunswick River near US Hwy. 74 / US Hwy. 17 bridge; See also: Cape Fear River
Pollutant: Arsenic, Hexavalent Chromium, Mercury
Fish Species: red drum
Advisory: Elevated levels of arsenic, hexavalent chromium, and mercury have been found in red drum in these waterways. People should not eat red drum due to elevated levels of hexavalent chromium.
Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.
Site: From its confluence with the Cape Fear River downstream to the US-17 bridge; See also: Cape Fear River and Sturgeon Creek.
Pollutant: Arsenic, Hexavalent Chromium, Mercury
Fish Species: striped bass, striped mullet, and blue crab
Date Issued: September 25, 2017
Advisory: Elevated levels of arsenic, hexavalent chromium, and mercury have been found in striped bass, striped mullet, and blue crab in these waterways. People should eat no more than: 2 meals per week of striped bass due to elevated levels of mercury; 3 meals per week of striped mullet due to elevated levels of hexavalent chromium; and 3 meals per week of blue crab due to elevated levels of arsenic, hexavalent chromium, and mercury. In addition, the statewide mercury advisory for catfish and largemouth bass is protective for people eating catfish and largemouth bass from these waterways. The recommended mercury advisory for catfish and largemouth bass in this area is: Pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and children under age 15 should not eat any catfish or largemouth bass from these waterways. Other people should not eat more than one meal per week. A meal of fish is approximately six (6) ounces of uncooked fish.
This fish consumption advisory is based on an increased risk of cancer from arsenic and hexavalent chromium exposure and neurological effects from mercury exposure. The fish contamination in these waterways does not present a known health risk for persons engaging in recreational activities such as wading, swimming, boating, handling fish, or touching the water.
Please also see N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s harvest moratorium on striped bass for this area.
Date Issued: October 6, 2021
Site: Near the Archie Blue Community Park, upstream of the confluence of Burnt Mill Creek with Smith Creek; See also: Cape Fear River.
Pollutant:Arsenic, Hexavalent Chromium, Mercury
Fish Species: bowfin, bluegill, and flathead catfish
Advisory: Elevated levels of arsenic, hexavalent chromium, and mercury have been found in bowfin, bluegill, and flathead catfish in these waterways. People should not eat bowfin due to elevated levels of hexavalent chromium and mercury. People should eat no more than 1 meal per week of bluegill or flathead catfish due to elevated hexavalent chromium.
Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.
Date Issued: July 13, 2023
Site: Fayetteville Boat Ramp, near the I-95 overpass, to the Bluffs on the Cape Fear, near the I-140 overpass
Pollutant: PFOS, one type of PFAS chemical
Fish Species: Blue Gill, Flathead Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Redear, Blue Catfish, American Shad, and Striped Bass
Advisory: Elevated levels of PFOS and other PFAS chemicals have been found in Blue Gill, Flathead Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Redear, Blue Catfish, American Shad, and Striped Bass. For women of childbearing age (15 to 44 years) pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children, do not eat Blue Gill, Flathead Catfish, Largemouth bass, Redear fish, and Striped bass. For Blue Catfish and American Shad, do not eat more than 1 serving per year combined across all species. For adults, Blue Gill, Flathead Catfish, Largemouth bass, Redear fish, and Striped bass should not be eaten more than 1 serving per year combined across all species. Blue Catfish and American Shad should not be eaten more than 7 servings per year combined across all species.
For more information, please see the July 2023 NCDHHS press release
For information about the project, please visit appendix A and appendix B.
For frequently asked questions(FAQs), please go English FAQs and Spanish FAQs.
Fish Advisory Sign Templates Spanish
Date Issued: October 6, 2021
Site: Between Riegelwood Landing and the confluence of Livingston Creek and Cape Fear River
Pollutant: Arsenic, Hexavalent Chromium, Mercury
Fish Species: bluegill, bowfin, and channel catfish
Advisory: Elevated levels of arsenic, hexavalent chromium, and mercury have been found in bluegill, bowfin, and channel catfish in these waterways. People should not eat bowfin and channel catfish due to elevated levels of hexavalent chromium and mercury. People should eat no more than 1 meal per week of bluegill due to elevated hexavalent chromium.
Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.
Site: Just upstream of the confluence with the Brunswick River downstream to the US-17 bridge; See also Brunswick River and Sturgeon Creek
Pollutant: Arsenic, Hexavalent Chromium, Mercury
Fish Species: striped bass, striped mullet, and blue crab
Date Issued: September 25, 2017
Advisory: Elevated levels of arsenic, hexavalent chromium, and mercury have been found in striped bass, striped mullet, and blue crab in these waterways. People should eat no more than: 2 meals per week of striped bass due to elevated levels of mercury; 3 meals per week of striped mullet due to elevated levels of hexavalent chromium; and 3 meals per week of blue crab due to elevated levels of arsenic, hexavalent chromium, and mercury. In addition, the statewide mercury advisory for catfish and largemouth bass is protective for people eating catfish and largemouth bass from these waterways. The recommended mercury advisory for catfish and largemouth bass in this area is: Pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and children under age 15 should not eat any catfish or largemouth bass from these waterways. Other people should not eat more than one meal per week. A meal of fish is approximately six (6) ounces of uncooked fish.
This fish consumption advisory is based on an increased risk of cancer from arsenic and hexavalent chromium exposure and neurological effects from mercury exposure. The fish contamination in these waterways does not present a known health risk for persons engaging in recreational activities such as wading, swimming, boating, handling fish, or touching the water.
Please also see N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s harvest moratorium on striped bass for this area.
Affected Counties: Clay
Pollutant: Mercury
Fish Species: white bass or largemouth bass
Date Issued: December 14, 2012
Advisory: Elevated levels of mercury may be found in white bass or largemouth bass caught in Lake Chatuge. Women of childbearing age (15-44 years) and children under 15 should not eat any white bass or largemouth bass caught in Lake Chatuge. All other persons should eat no more than one meal (6 ounces) per week of white bass or largemouth bass caught in the lake. Swimming, boating, other recreational activities, and handling the fish present no known significant health risks and are not affected by this advisory. State health officials are unable to positively identify the original sources of the contamination, but have determined that airborne sources such as wind-blown dust are the most likely source.
Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.
Affected Counties: Wake
Site: Above Lake Crabtree and below Lake Crabtree to where it enters the Neuse River
Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Fish Species: carp, catfish, and largemouth bass
Date Issued: March 31, 2006
Advisory: Limit consumption of carp, catfish, and largemouth bass from Crabtree Creek to no more than one meal per month. High levels of PCBs have been found in carp, catfish, and largemouth bass from these waters.
Affected Counties: Caswell
Site: The N.C. portion of the Dan River that runs through Caswell county, downstream from Danville, VA
Pollutant: Mercury
Fish Species: striped bass
Date Revised: November 29, 2017
Advisory: Elevated levels of mercury have been found in striped bass caught in the N.C. portion of the Dan River that runs through Caswell County, downstream from Danville, VA. Women of childbearing age, pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and children less than 15 years old should not eat striped bass in this area due to high mercury, and all others should eat no more than one meal per week due to mercury. In addition, the statewide mercury advisory for largemouth bass is protective for people eating largemouth bass from this waterway. The statewide mercury advisory for largemouth bass is: Pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and children under age 15 should not eat largemouth bass caught in the state. Other people should not eat more than one meal per week of largemouth bass caught in the state. A meal of fish is approximately six (6) ounces of uncooked fish. This fish consumption advisory is based on an increased risk of neurological effects from mercury exposure. The fish contamination in this waterway does not present a known health risk for persons engaging in recreational activities such as wading, swimming, boating, handling fish, or touching the water.
The former "do not eat" advisory that was issued in February 2015 for all fish and shellfish from the Dan River downstream of the coal ash spill near Eden, NC has been lifted and is replaced with this advisory.
For more information see Dan River Coal Ash Spill (Duke Energy – Dan River Steam Station Site).
Date Issued: October 6, 2021
Site: Downstream of Cartwheel branch, upstream of the confluence of Davis Creek and Cape Fear River in Navassa, NC; See also: Cape Fear River.
Pollutant: Arsenic, Hexavalent Chromium, Mercury
Fish Species: bowfin and bluegill
Advisory: Elevated levels of arsenic, hexavalent chromium, and mercury have been found in bowfin and bluegill in these waterways. People should not eat bowfin due to elevated levels of hexavalent chromium. People should eat no more than 1 meal per week of bluegill due to elevated hexavalent chromium.
Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.
Affected Counties: Montgomery, Stanly
Site: See also Yadkin-Pee Dee River System
Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Fish Species: catfish
Date Issued: March 13, 2013
Advisory: Levels of chemicals called PCBs were found above the state action level (0.05 mg/kg) in catfish species larger than 18 inches (450 mm) in Falls Reservoir. Prior studies of catfish in the state's lakes and rivers have identified elevated levels of mercury south and east of U.S. Highway I-85. The recommended number of meals for catfish as a result of the mercury advisory is also protective of potential health effects associated with eating catfish contaminated with PCBs in this lake. The recommended mercury advisory for catfish in this area is: Pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and children under age 15 should not eat any catfish from this lake. Other people should not eat more than one meal a week. A meal of fish is approximately six (6) ounces of uncooked fish.
See the related public health risk assessment of fish and sediment.
Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.
Affected Counties: Graham and Swain
Site: See also Santeetlah Lake (Graham County)
Pollutant: Mercury
Fish Species: walleye
Date Issued: September 10, 2008
Advisory: Pregnant women, women who may become pregnant, and children under 15 should avoid eating walleye from Santeetlah and Fontana lakes due to high levels of mercury. Other people should limit their consumption of those fish to no more than one meal per week.
Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.
Affected Counties: Jackson
Pollutant: Mercury
Fish Species: smallmouth bass and walleye
Date Issued: February 22, 2016
Advisory: Recent testing showed elevated levels of mercury in walleye and smallmouth bass in the Glenville Reservoir. Previous studies have shown that largemouth bass in all waters of North Carolina have elevated levels of mercury. The N.C. Division of Public Health recommends that pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and children under age 15 should not eat any walleye, smallmouth or largemouth bass from Glenville Reservoir. Other people should not eat more than one meal per month of walleye or smallmouth bass, and one meal per week of largemouth bass from Glenville Reservoir. A meal of fish is about 6 ounces of raw fish.
Recreational Water Use: The elevated levels of mercury in walleye, smallmouth and largemouth bass do not present a known health risk for people touching the water, wading, swimming, boating, or handling the fish.
Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.
Affected Counties: Davidson, Rowan
Site: See also Yadkin-Pee Dee River System
Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Fish Species: catfish
Date Issued: March 13, 2013
Advisory: Levels of chemicals called PCBs were found above the state action level (0.05 mg/kg) in catfish species larger than 18 inches (450 mm) in High Rock Lake. Prior studies of catfish in the state's lakes and rivers have identified elevated levels of mercury south and east of U.S. Highway I-85. The recommended number of meals for catfish as a result of the mercury advisory is also protective of potential health effects associated with eating catfish contaminated with PCBs in this lake. The recommended mercury advisory for catfish in this area is: Pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and children under age 15 should not eat any catfish from this lake. Other people should not eat more than one meal a week. A meal of fish is approximately six (6) ounces of uncooked fish.
See the related public health risk assessment of fish and sediment.
Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.
Affected Counties: Wake
Site: See also Brier Creek and Little Brier Creek
Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Fish Species: carp and catfish
Date Issued: May 7, 2004
Advisory: Do not eat carp or catfish from Lake Crabtree. High levels of PCBs have been found in these fish. Limit consumption of all other fish from Lake Crabtree to no more than one meal per month. When in doubt about the fish species, do not eat any of the fish. Swimming, boating, and other recreational activities present no known significant health risks from PCBs and are not affected by this advisory. PCB-related risks, if any, from these activities have been shown to be negligible. If future testing reveals new information, then new advice will be given and new signs will be issued.
Affected Counties: Halifax, Northampton and Warren
Pollutant: Mercury
Fish Species: walleye and largemouth bass
Date Issued: November 18, 2009
Advisory: Elevated levels of mercury may be found in walleye and largemouth bass in these waters. Pregnant women, women who may become pregnant, and children under 15 should avoid eating walleye and largemouth bass from this lake due to high levels of mercury. Other people should eat no more than one to two meals per month of walleye or largemouth bass from this lake.
Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.
Affected Counties: Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln and Mecklenburg
Pollutants: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Fish Species: hybrid striped bass
Date Issued: August 2017
Advisory: The North Carolina Division of Public Health (DPH), Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch (OEE) has reviewed fish tissue data for the hybrid striped bass in Lake Norman. After reviewing the data, OEE has issued a fish consumption advisory for Lake Norman in Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln, and Mecklenburg counties. Elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been found in hybrid striped bass in this waterway. This fish consumption advisory is based on an increased risk for liver and immune system effects for individuals that eat hybrid striped bass contaminated with PCBs.
Because of PCB contamination in the hybrid bass, the North Carolina Division of Public Health is recommending that people should not eat more than 2 meals per week of hybrid striped bass from Lake Norman. The PCB fish contamination does not present a known health risk for persons engaging in recreational activities such as wading, swimming, boating, handling fish, or touching the water.
Affected Counties: Catawba, Iredell, Lincoln and Mecklenburg
Pollutants: Mercury, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Fish Species: striped bass
Date Issued: April 9, 2013
Advisory: Levels of PCBs have been found in striped bass in Lake Norman that exceed the state action level for PCBs of 0.05 mg/kg. Because previous studies have shown that largemouth bass in all waters of North Carolina have elevated levels of mercury, this advisory for Lake Norman includes largemouth bass as well as striped bass. Pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and children under age 15 should not eat any striped bass or largemouth bass from Lake Norman. To guard against mercury exposure and potential PCB exposure, other people should not eat more than two meals a month of largemouth bass and one meal a week of striped bass from Lake Norman. A meal of fish is considered approximately six (6) ounces of uncooked fish.
Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.
Affected Counties: Montgomery, Stanly
Site: See also Yadkin-Pee Dee River System
Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Fish Species: catfish
Date Issued: March 13, 2013
Advisory: Levels of chemicals called PCBs were found above the state action level (0.05 mg/kg) in catfish species larger than 18 inches (450 mm) in Lake Tillery. Prior studies of catfish in the state's lakes and rivers have identified elevated levels of mercury south and east of U.S. Highway I-85. The recommended number of meals for catfish as a result of the mercury advisory is also protective of potential health effects associated with eating catfish contaminated with PCBs in this lake. The recommended mercury advisory for catfish in this area is: Pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and children under age 15 should not eat any catfish from this lake. Other people should not eat more than one meal a week. A meal of fish is approximately six (6) ounces of uncooked fish.
See the related public health risk assessment of fish and sediment.
Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.
Affected Counties: Gaston and Mecklenburg
Pollutants: Mercury, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Fish Species: largemouth bass
Date Issued: December 23, 2011
Advisory: Elevated levels of PCBs have been found in largemouth bass in Lake Wylie. In addition, previous studies have shown that largemouth bass in all waters of North Carolina have elevated levels of mercury. Pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and children under age 15 should not eat any largemouth bass. To guard against mercury and PCB exposure, other people should not eat more than two meals a month of largemouth bass from this lake.
Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.
Affected Counties: Wake
Site: Downstream of Brier Creek Parkway. Includes tributaries to Little Brier Creek and Brier Creek Reservoir; See also Brier Creek and Lake Crabtree
Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Fish Species: all fish
Date Issued: December 8, 2003
Advisory: Do not eat fish from Little Brier Creek (downstream of Brier Creek Parkway), its tributaries, and Brier Creek Reservoir. Fish from these waters are not safe to eat. High levels of PCBs have been found in the fish.
Affected Counties: Gaston, Mecklenburg
Pollutant: Mercury, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Fish Species: largemouth bass, blue catfish and channel catfish
Date Issued: April 25, 2013
Advisory: Update to the advisory issued January 6, 2011. Testing has shown levels of PCBs in blue catfish and channel catfish in Mountain Island Lake exceeding the state action level for PCBs of 0.05 mg/kg. Previous studies have shown that largemouth bass in all waters of North Carolina have elevated levels of mercury. DHHS recommends that no one eat channel catfish from Mountain Island Lake. In addition, public health officials recommend that pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and children under age 15 should not eat any largemouth bass or blue catfish from Mountain Island Lake. Other people should not eat more than two meals a month of largemouth bass and one meal a month of blue catfish from this lake. A meal of fish is approximately six (6) ounces of uncooked fish. The PCB and mercury contamination does not present a known health risk for persons engaging in other recreational activites such as touching the water, wading, swimming, boating or handling the fish.
Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.
Affected Counties: Macon
Pollutant: Mercury
Fish Species: smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch and largemouth bass
Date Issued: December 14, 2012
Advisory: Smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch and largemouth bass caught in the lake may contain elevated levels of mercury. Women of childbearing age (15-44 years) and children under 15 should not eat any smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch or largemouth bass caught in Nantahala Lake. All other persons should eat no more than one meal (6 ounces) per week of smallmouth bass, walleye, yellow perch or largemouth bass caught in Nantahala Lake. Swimming, boating, other recreational activities, and handling the fish present no known significant health risks and are not affected by this advisory. State health officials are unable to positively identify the original sources of the contamination, but have determined that airborne sources such as wind-blown dust are the most likely source.
Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.
Affected Counties: Wake
Site: Just below Crabtree Creek to Auburn-Knightdale Road
Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Fish Species: carp and catfish
Date Issued: April 2, 2008
Advisory: Limit consumption of carp and catfish to no more than one meal per month. High levels of PCBs may be found in carp and catfish from these waters.
Date Issued: October 6, 2021
Site: Near Riverside Park Community Building, upstream of the I-40 bridge, at Castle Hayne Boat Ramp; See also Cape Fear River
Pollutant: Arsenic, Hexavalent Chromium, Mercury
Fish Species: bowfin and bluegill
Advisory: Elevated levels of arsenic, hexavalent chromium, and mercury have been found in bowfin and bluegill in these waterways. People should not eat bowfin due to elevated levels of hexavalent chromium and mercury. People should eat no more than 1 meal per week of bluegill due to elevated hexavalent chromium.
Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.
Affected Counties: Bertie, Martin and Washington
Site: From the U. S. Hwy 17 bridge near Williamston to mouth of Albemarle Sound
Pollutant: Dioxins
Fish Species: catfish and carp
Date Issued: October 2001
Advisory: Catfish and carp from these waters may contain low levels of dioxins. Women of childbearing age and children should not eat any catfish or carp from this area until further notice. All other persons should eat no more than one meal per month of catfish and carp from this area. Swimming, boating, and other recreational activities present no known significant health risks and are not affected by this advisory.
Affected Counties: Wake
Site: Just upstream of the Neuse River; See also Walnut Creek
Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Fish Species: carp and catfish
Date Issued: April 2, 2008
Advisory: Limit consumption of carp and catfish to no more than one meal per month and limit consumption of all other fish to no more than one meal per week from these waters. High levels of PCBs may be found in these fish.
Affected Counties: Graham
Site: See also Fontana Lake (Graham and Swain Counties)
Pollutant: Mercury
Fish Species: walleye
Date Issued: September 10, 2008
Advisory: Pregnant women, women who may become pregnant, and children under 15 should avoid eating walleye from Santeetlah and Fontana lakes due to high levels of mercury. Other people should limit their consumption of those fish to no more than one meal per week.
Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.
Affected Counties: Brunswick, New Hanover
Site: Just upstream of the confluence with the Brunswick River downstream to the US-17 bridge; See also Brunswick River and Cape Fear River
Pollutant: Arsenic, Hexavalent Chromium, Mercury
Fish Species: striped bass, striped mullet, and blue crab
Date Issued: September 25, 2017
Advisory: Elevated levels of arsenic, hexavalent chromium, and mercury have been found in striped bass, striped mullet, and blue crab in these waterways. People should eat no more than: 2 meals per week of striped bass due to elevated levels of mercury; 3 meals per week of striped mullet due to elevated levels of hexavalent chromium; and 3 meals per week of blue crab due to elevated levels of arsenic, hexavalent chromium, and mercury. In addition, the statewide mercury advisory for catfish and largemouth bass is protective for people eating catfish and largemouth bass from these waterways. The recommended mercury advisory for catfish and largemouth bass in this area is: Pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and children under age 15 should not eat any catfish or largemouth bass from these waterways. Other people should not eat more than one meal per week. A meal of fish is approximately six (6) ounces of uncooked fish.
This fish consumption advisory is based on an increased risk of cancer from arsenic and hexavalent chromium exposure and neurological effects from mercury exposure. The fish contamination in these waterways does not present a known health risk for persons engaging in recreational activities such as wading, swimming, boating, handling fish, or touching the water.
Please also see N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s harvest moratorium on striped bass for this area.
Affected Counties: Wake
Site: Just upstream of the Neuse River; See also Rocky Branch
Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Fish Species: carp and catfish
Date Issued: April 2, 2008
Advisory: Limit consumption of carp and catfish to no more than one meal per month and limit consumption of all other fish to no more than one meal per week from these waters. High levels of PCBs may be found in these fish.
Affected Counties: Beaufort, Martin, and Washington
Site: The entire creek in Beaufort, Martin, and Washington counties
Pollutant: Dioxins
Fish Species: catfish and carp
Date Issued: October 2001
Advisory: Catfish and carp from these waters may contain low levels of dioxins. Women of childbearing age and children should not eat any catfish or carp from this area until further notice. All other persons should eat no more than one meal per month of catfish and carp from this area. Swimming, boating, and other recreational activities present no known significant health risks and are not affected by this advisory.
Affected Counties: Davidson, Montgomery, Rowan, Stanly
Site: See also Falls Reservoir, High Rock Lake, Lake Tillery
Fish Species: catfish
Pollutant: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
Date Issued: March 13, 2013
Advisory: Levels of chemicals called PCBs were found above the state action level (0.05 mg/kg) in catfish species larger than 18 inches (450 mm) in the Yadkin-Pee Dee River System. Prior studies of catfish in the state's lakes and rivers have identified elevated levels of mercury south and east of U.S. Highway I-85. The recommended number of meals for catfish as a result of the mercury advisory is also protective of potential health effects associated with eating catfish contaminated with PCBs in this lake. The recommended mercury advisory for catfish in this area is: Pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and children under age 15 should not eat any catfish from this lake. Other people should not eat more than one meal a week. A meal of fish is approximately six (6) ounces of uncooked fish.
See the related public health risk assessment of fish and sediment.
Please also see the statewide mercury advisory.
