Fish Resource Links
- USEPA/FDA Recommendations for Fish Consumption
- USEPA/FDA Commercial Fish Advice
- Department of Fish and Game Sport Fish Regulation Books
- Department of Public Health Fish Information
- Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Fish Mercury Project
- Southern California Fish Contamination Education Collaborative
Listservs
contact OEHHA
FISH
Safe Eating Guidelines for Donner Lake
[01/27/11] updated 06/09/11
Follow this link to download the Donner Lake Safe Eating Guidelines as a pdf file
Follow this link to download the Frequently Asked Questions
Follow this link to download a copy of this page as full version of the Fact Sheet as a pdf file
Follow this link to download the Press Release
Follow this link to view or download a pictorial version of the advice in English
Follow this link to view or download a pictorial version of the advice in Spanish
Follow this link to view or download a pictorial brochure with the advice in English
Follow this link to view or download a pictorial brochure with the advice in Spanish
What are “Safe Eating Guidelines”?
OEHHA uses findings of chemical levels in fish to provide Safe Eating Guidelines for fish caught in lakes and streams. This helps people choose fish that are safe to eat and are high in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
The Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board tested fish from Donner Lake for chemicals. Results:
- None of the fish had high chemical levels.
- Brown trout and lake trout had medium levels of mercury and PCBs.
- Rainbow trout and kokanee had low levels of the chemicals tested.
How do chemicals like mercury and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) get in fish?
Chemicals enter lakes and streams from spills, the air, or water runoff from land.
- Mercury comes from natural sources, mining, and air fallout from burning coal and other fuels.
- PCBs come from spills, leaks, and improper disposal of materials containing PCBs.
Chemicals enter fish through the food they eat in lakes and streams.
What are the health concerns about eating fish with mercury and PCBs?
- Too much methylmercury, a form of mercury, can change how the brains of babies and children develop. Mothers can pass this methylmercury to their babies during pregnancy.
- High levels of PCBs can cause health problems in young children and adults. Some forms of PCBs cause cancer in animal studies.
Should I continue to eat fish from Donner Lake?
Yes! Kokanee and rainbow trout from Donner Lake are good for the body.
Fish, in general, is:
- An important part of a healthy well-balanced diet. The American Heart Association recommends eating at least two servings of fish each week.
- A good source of protein, vitamins, and heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Pregnant women should eat fish because omega-3 fatty acids help the baby's brain develop.
What should I do to protect my health and my family's health?
- Follow the advice in “A guide to eating fish caught in Donner Lake.”
- Eat a variety of fish, especially those low in chemicals and high in omega-3s.
- Eat smaller (younger) fish of legal size.
- Eat only the fillet portion of fish you catch.
- Thoroughly cook the fish, allow the juice to drain away.
- Read about Safe Eating Guidelines for other water bodies in California:
- Fresh Water or Ocean Sport Fishing Regulations booklets from the California Department of Fish and Game, or www.dfg.ca.gov/regulations
- Visit www.oehha.ca.gov (click on “FISH”, then “OEHHA Fish Advisories”)
rainbow trout
kokanee
brown trout
lake trout
Safe to Eat
Kokanee - 2 servings per week OR
Trout - 4 servings per week for women 18-45 and children 1-17
Trout - 7 servings a week for men or women over 45Safe to Eat
1 Serving a weekThere are no fish with high levels of chemicals
