BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has issued new fish consumption advisories for people who catch and consume freshwater fish from 13 bodies of water at state parks.
The locations in Worcester County are Dennison Lake in Winchendon, Dunn Pond in Gardner, Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester, and Wallum Lake in Douglas.
Recent testing of fish from these locations found levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) above DPH-recommended levels for regular consumption.
DPH tested the surface water at these locations and found the levels of PFAS were not found unsafe for swimming or any other recreational activities.
PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals manufactured and used in a variety of consumer products and industries worldwide. PFAS has been associated with:
- Changes in liver and kidney function, changes in thyroid hormone and cholesterol levels, and immune system effects;
- Developmental effects to fetuses during pregnancy;
- An increased risk of developing cancer following long-term exposures to elevated levels of some PFAS.
The advisories for each location are different. The recommendations for the Worcester County locations are:
- Dennison Lake in Winchendon
- Children under 12, pregnant women, nursing mothers, women of child-bearing age – Do not eat Largemouth Bass Limit other species to 1 meal/month
- General Public – Limit all fish to 2 meals per months
- Dunn Pond in Gardner
- Children under 12, pregnant women, nursing mothers, women of child-bearing age – Do not eat any fish
- General Public – Limit all fish to one meal per month
- Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester
- Children under 12, pregnant women, nursing mothers, women of child-bearing age – Limit all fish to 1 meal per 6 months
- General Public – Limit all fish to 1 meal per 2 months
- Wallum Lake in Douglas
- Children under 12, pregnant women, nursing mothers, women of child-bearing age – Limit all fish to 1 meal per month
- General Public – Limit all fish to 2 meals per month
Other bodies of water in Massachusetts included in the advisories are:
- Ashland Reservoir in Ashland
- Chicopee Reservoir in Chicopee
- Lake Cochituate in Natick
- Fearing Pond in Plymouth
- Houghtons Pond in Milton
- Pearce Lake in Saugus
- Pequot Pond in Westfield
- Walden Pond in Concord
- Watsons Pond in Taunton
Advisories for all water bodies can be found here.
