Officials issue urgent warning about health risks of eating area's local fish — and the risks are greater than expected

By Kritiksha Sharma | Yahoo!News | March 18, 2025

Read the full article by Kritiksha Sharma (Yahoo!News)

"If you enjoy fishing in the Potomac or Anacostia rivers, you may want to think twice before cooking up and eating your catch. Officials in the capital have issued a new fish consumption advisory due to high levels of PFAS. These contaminants have been linked to serious health risks, raising concerns about their growing presence in the local food chains.

What is happening?

The District of Columbia's Department of Energy and Environment has issued its first-ever fish consumption advisory based on PFAS contamination — synthetic substances often called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down in the environment. These chemicals, along with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metals, were detected in fish tissue from the Potomac and Anacostia rivers.

The advisory urges residents to avoid eating eel, carp, striped bass, and largemouth bass entirely. Other species, including catfish, perch, and sunfish, should only be consumed in limited amounts. While this warning applies only to fish caught in local waters — not those sold in grocery stores or restaurants — it does highlight growing concerns about water pollution and public health."