Anglers who enjoy eating what they catch may want to limit their intake of bass and catfish hooked in some local waterways.

The Alabama Department of Public Health on Tuesday released its annual consumption advisory based on data collected the preceding fall by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. There were at least three sites in Limestone County where mercury or Perfluoralkyl sulfonate (PFOS) was found in largemouth bass.

Mercury and PFOS were also found in largemouth bass and catfish in Lauderdale and Morgan counties.

ADEM, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources collected samples of specific fish species for analysis from various waterbodies throughout the state during the fall of 2016 (641 samples; 48 collection stations). ADPH assessed the analytical results to determine whether any of the tested contaminants in the fish may give rise to potential human health effects.

Alabama’s three main contaminants are mercury, Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and PFOS. Mercury builds up in the tissue or muscle of the fish and can build up in human tissues if mercury tainted fish is consumed. Too much exposure to mercury may cause heart problems in adults.

PFOS is an organic molecule that contains fluorine. Limited studies have indicated that fish consumption may be a route of human exposure to PFOS.

It is readily absorbed after ingestion and accumulates primarily in the serum, kidney, and liver. Due to its chemical nature, metabolism in the body is very slow. Therefore, it can stay in the body for a long time.

Local advisories

Lauderdale County

• Cypress Creek embayment, approximately 0.5 miles upstream of Alabama 20 — channel catfish, two meals per month (Mercury); and largemouth bass, two meals per month (Mercury)

Limestone County

• Limestone Creek embayment, beginning approximately 1 mile upstream of confluence with Tennessee River — largemouth bass, two meals per month (Mercury)

• Wheeler Reservoir, Round Island Creek embayment beginning 1.5 miles upstream of confluence with Tennessee River — largemouth bass, two meals per month (Mercury)

• Wheeler Reservoir, main river channel, Tennessee River mile 296 — largemouth bass, one meal per month (PFOS)

Morgan County

• Downstream of West Flint Creek confluence, vicinity of U.S. 31 — do not eat any (Mercury)

• Wheeler Reservoir, river miles 303 to 296, area south of the main river channel — largemouth bass, one meal per month (PFOS)

You can still eat the fish

Newly issued advisories are represented as the safe number of meals of that species of fish that can be eaten in a given period of time, such as meals per week, meals per month or do not eat any. A meal portion consists of 6 ounces of cooked fish or 8 ounces of raw fish.

No regulations ban the consumption of any of the fish caught within the state, nor is there a risk of an acute toxic episode that could result from consuming any of the fish containing the contaminants for which the state has conducted analyses.

A fish consumption advisory can be issued for one or more specific species of fish within a waterbody or an advisory can be extended to include all fish species within that waterbody. When excess levels of a contaminant are found in a specific species of fish, an advisory is issued for that specific species.

For example, if an advisory had been issued for largemouth bass and not for channel catfish, it would be advised that individuals should not eat largemouth bass, but consumption of channel catfish is permissible without endangering health.

When excess levels of a contaminant are found in multiple fish species sampled from a specific waterbody, a “Do Not Eat Any” advisory is issued. Consumption of any fish from a specific waterbody under a “Do Not Eat Any” advisory may place the consumer at risk for harm from the contaminant.

If a species is listed in the advisory, it is prudent to assume that similar species with similar feeding habits should be consumed with caution. For example, if black crappie is listed and white crappie is not, because they are in the same family, all crappie would fall under the listed advisory.

For more information and to see the statewide list, click here.