State health officials say striped bass in Lake Norman have been found with elevated levels of PCBs, a suspected cancer-causing chemical. In an announcement Tuesday night the N.C. Department of Health & Human Services advised against eating the fish, as well as large mouth bass, which may have dangerous levels of mercury.

The warning does not affect other kinds of fish in the lake, state officials said. And boating, swimming or other water activities are still considered safe, they said.

The department recommends that pregnant or nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and children under age 15 avoid eating striped bass or largemouth bass caught in Lake Norman. To guard against mercury exposure and potential PCB exposure, other people should not eat more than two meals a month of largemouth bass and one meal a week of striped bass from Lake Norman.

PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls once were used as coolants and lubricants in electrical transformers, capacitors and other electrical equipment because they don’t burn easily and are good insulators. The U.S. stopped the production of PCBs in 1977 amid evidence that they accumulate in the environment and can endanger health.

High levels of mercury have been found in fish from all of North Carolina’s water’s, according to the health department. Mercury can be a risk to brain develop net developing brain of unborn babies of pregnant women who eat fish contaminated with mercury. Young children may also be at risk of adverse neurological effects from eating fish contaminated with mercury.

Here’s the text of the announcement:

DHHS Health Advisory

Fish Consumption Advisory for Lake Norman

Mecklenburg, Iredell, Lincoln, and Catawba Counties affected

April 9, 2013

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health has issued a fish consumption advisory for striped bass and largemouth bass in Lake Norman in Mecklenburg, Iredell, Lincoln, and Catawba Counties. Elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were found in striped bass that exceeded the state action level for PCBs of 0.05 mg/kg. Because previous studies have shown that largemouth bass in all waters of North Carolina have elevated levels of mercury, this advisory for Lake Norman includes largemouth bass as well as striped bass.

DHHS is recommending that pregnant women, nursing women, women who may become pregnant, and children under age 15 should not eat any striped bass or largemouth bass from Lake Norman. To guard against mercury exposure and potential PCB exposure, other people should not eat more than two meals a month of largemouth bass and one meal a week of striped bass from Lake Norman. A meal of fish is considered approximately 6 ounces of uncooked fish.

PCBs may adversely impact the neurological development of children, the reproductive system, the immune system, and may cause cancer. Mercury presents an increased risk of adverse effects to the developing brain of unborn babies of pregnant women who eat fish contaminated with mercury. Young children may also be at risk of adverse neurological effects from eating fish contaminated with mercury.

The PCB and mercury contamination in fish does not present a known health risk for persons engaging in other recreational activities such as touching the water, wading, swimming, boating or handling the fish.

The Division of Public Health reiterates that the fish consumption advisory recommendation for Lake Norman is limited only to striped bass and largemouth bass.

More information on health issues related to fish contaminants is available on the DHHS Division of Public Health website.

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