New ‘Do Not Eat’ Warning Now Issued For Fish, Deer In Wisconsin
There has been a lot of news recently regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are a group of man-made chemicals used in various industrial and consumer products for their water-, oil-, and heat-resistant properties
PFAS have been used for decades in various products, such as non-stick cookware, fast food wrappers, stain-resistant sprays, and certain types of firefighting foams.
However, these chemicals are now known to be dangerous because they are highly persistent in the environment and in the human body, where they can build up over time. Scientific studies have linked exposure to certain levels of PFAS with a range of serious health problems
Unfortunately, these contaminants make their way into the environment in several ways, including spills of PFAS-containing materials, discharges of PFAS-containing wastewater to treatment plants, and use of certain types of firefighting foams.
When that happens, it can hurt animals in the area and ultimately harm the humans who consume them. Recently, residents in a portion of Wisconsin were given a "Do Not Eat" warning due to elevated PFAS levels found in fish and deer in the area.
New Deer & Fish Consumption Advisories Issued In Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Department of Health Services (DHS) announced new deer and fish consumption advisories for the Town of Stella and nearby waterbodies due to the contamination of PFAS.
Fish Consumption Advisory
The “Do Not Eat” PFAS-based consumption advisory is for all fish species from the Moen Chain of Lakes (including Moen Lake, Second Lake, Third Lake, Fourth Lake, Fifth Lake), Sunset Lake, Starks Creek (upstream to and including Starks Spring), and Snowden Lake.
The DNR says that fish were collected from the Moen Lake Chain and Snowden Lake in a sampling effort for contaminant monitoring, and the results from these sampling efforts showed elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a type of PFAS, in the tissue of all fish sampled from these waterbodies.
Based on this and new consumption guidelines developed to reflect emerging science on PFOS, the officials are recommending an updated advisory for the Moen Lake Chain and new advisories for Snowden Lake, Sunset Lake, and Starks Creek upstream to Starks Spring.
Deer Consumption Advisory
Officials also issued new PFAS-based guidance for the consumption of deer harvested within a 5-mile radius of the Town of Stella's town hall. The new guidance for consuming muscle tissue from harvested deer in this area is one meal per month, and “Do Not Eat” for liver.
Due to the community's high interest in PFAS contamination near the Town of Stella, the DNR had asked hunters within a 3-mile radius to donate muscle and liver samples from their harvests during the 2024 hunting season.
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A total of 11 deer were sampled, and testing showed elevated PFAS levels in the muscle (venison) of deer harvested from this area. Because of these findings, the DNR and DHS have issued a one-meal-per-month PFAS-based consumption advisory for deer muscle (venison) in a 5-mile radius around the Town of Stella's town hall.
Sampling results also showed significant PFAS levels in deer liver tissues. The liver filters chemicals from the blood, and some chemicals, like PFAS, can accumulate in the liver over time. These findings suggest that eating liver from deer in this area is likely to result in significant PFAS exposure. DHS and DNR recommend that people not eat liver harvested from deer within the advisory area.
It's important to note that following fish and wildlife consumption advisories helps protect you from consuming PFAS-contaminated tissue, which can cause the chemicals to accumulate in the body.
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