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For the most part, Florida's freshwater fishes are
considered safe to eat. Fish
consumption advisories are issued by the Florida Department of Health (DOH)
in cooperation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to assist anglers
in making informed choices on selecting fish to eat from Florida waters.
The most common fish consumption advisory in Florida is
for
mercury; however, waterbody specific health advisories have been issued for
pesticides, dioxins, and
saxitoxins. Visit
www.doh.state.fl.us/floridafishadvice to view all advisories and the most
recent updates. The DOH can also be contacted through regular mail or by
telephone:
Florida Department of Health Consumption advice about
commercially caught fish sold in supermarkets and restaurants can be found in
the joint Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) online publication, Joint Federal Advisory for Mercury in Fish. Advisories
from other states and tribal agencies are also available online. Joint Federal
Advisory for Mercury in Fish: www.epa.gov/waterscience/fishadvice/advice.html In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency has
recommended
guidelines for handling lead, such as in lead sinkers. Recently, the issue of
blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) and their potential impacts to the
environment, natural resources, and public health has earned much attention in
the USA. Common in most of Florida’s aquatic environments, many cyanobacteria
species are capable of producing harmful toxins (cyanotoxins). Cyanobacteria can
cause unsightly blooms; cause taste and odor problems in public water supplies
and can kill domestic animals, pets, and fish and wildlife that drink or are
otherwise exposed to untreated contaminated water or toxic biota. Although a
major focus for public health officials is cyanotoxins in drinking water
supplies, increased concern for the possible risk for human illness through
recreational exposure is on the rise. In 2005, the
Florida Department of Health (DOH)
issued health advisories recommending people and their pets refrain from
recreational use or contact with blue-green algae blooms in both the St.
John’s River (Duval, Clay, and St. Johns Counties) and the St. Lucie River
(Martin County from the Okeechobee Canal to the St. Lucie Inlet). BLUE-GREEN ALGAE (CYANOBACTERIA) In recent
years, publicity over
blue-green algae in central Florida lakes, the St. Johns, St. Lucie, and
Caloosahatchee rivers, has led to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC) receiving enquiries from the public concerned about human
health risks and whether fish are safe to eat from affected areas.
Background Cyanobacterial
blooms are common in Florida lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds. Approximately 20
cyanobacteria species in Florida’s waters are capable of producing toxins,
including bloom forming species of Microcystis, Cylindrospermopsis,
Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Lyngbya, and Planktothrix.
Different cyanobacteria species can produce more than one type of toxin. As with
other harmful algal blooms (HABs), cyanobacteria and their toxins can disrupt
and damage sensitive ecosystems, and threaten public and natural resources
health and the environment. The public may be at risk if they ingest untreated
drinking water from affected areas, or possibly from recreational exposure to
toxins. Cyanobacteria blooms are most common in the summer when
growth conditions are ideal but may occur at any time of year. There is no
standard duration for a bloom and no way to determine visually whether or not a
bloom is toxic. Persistent blooms affect many of Florida’s largest and most
important rivers, lakes, and estuaries including the St. Johns, St. Lucie, and
Caloosahatchee rivers and Lakes Okeechobee, Apopka, Griffin, and Harris. Health Threats To date, very
few cases of human illness related cyanobacteria incidents have been reported in
the U.S. In Florida’s freshwater systems, some toxic cyanobacteria such as
Microcystis, commonly form blooms that can, on occasion, appear in lakes
and rivers and in reservoir waters destined for drinking water use. These water
treatment plants are designed to remove bad odors and taste associated with
blue-green algae blooms and to extract toxins from the source water. Recreational
exposure by direct contact with a cyanobacteria bloom from activities such as
jet-skiing, boating, and swimming have been reported to cause hay fever-like
symptoms (itchy eyes, sore throat, congestion) and dermal reactions (skin
rashes, blistering) at high concentrations. Ingesting contaminated water can
cause gastrointestinal distress (diarrhea, abdominal pains, nausea, vomiting).
Low level chronic exposure of contaminates through water or fish have yet to be
studied.
The risks of cyanotoxins to natural resources remain
relatively unknown. Health problems may occur in animals if they are chronically
exposed to fresh water with cyanotoxins.
Livestock and domestic animals can be poisoned by
drinking contaminated water, and fish and bird deaths have been reported in
Florida water bodies with persistent cyanobacteria blooms.
It is important to remember these toxins have
no known antidotes and cannot be removed by boiling.
Health Tips To reduce your risk of exposure:
·
Avoid scummy, foamy water where algae mats are
present (Heavy blooms often appear as bright or pea green to reddish-brown
water, occasionally with a “paint scum” appearance due to dead algae, and may
emit unpleasant gassy odors.)
·
Don’t cook with, eat fish from, or drink scummy
water
·
Do not let your pets or children eat or drink from
affected waters
·
Don’t eat fish that look unhealthy
·
Do not harvest dead or dying fish or shellfish
·
Do not swim in, jet ski over, or play near scummy
water or algal mats
·
Do not allow your pets or children to swim in, drink
from, or play near scummy water
·
Do not irrigate with scummy water
·
Do not use herbicides to kill blooms (this can
release the toxins directly into the water)
·
Minimize nutrient runoff and use of fertilizers
(this reduces the risk of a potential harmful bloom occurring) If contact with suspect or contaminated water occurs,
wash off immediately and thoroughly with clean water and soap (make sure to
rinse the swimsuit areas and your pets’ fur). Consult a doctor if illness
occurs. Contact a veterinarian if your pet suddenly becomes lethargic or shows
signs of poisoning including vomiting, diarrhea, or seizures. Reporting
In the event someone suspects they may
have become sick from exposure to blue-green algae, the DOH recommends they call
the toll free Aquatic Toxins Hotline at 1-888-232-8635.
The hotline is staffed by health professionals 24/7 every day of the year. The
DOH works with doctors to help alert for potential problems after contact with
cyanobacteria (Aquatic
Toxins Program). Early detection helps regulate events allowing county
health departments to place
health advisories into effect. Blue-green algae blooms along with dead, diseased, or
abnormally behaving fish or wildlife can be reported to the
FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI)
Fish Kill Hotline (on-line) or by phone at 1-800-636-0511. A biologist will
respond or a recorded message asking callers to leave contact information and a
detailed report. NOTE: The Fish Kill Hotline should NOT be used to
request dead fish cleanup, this is the responsibility of local authorities not
State Agencies.
Bureau of Community Environmental Health
4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin# A08
Tallahassee, FL, 32399-1712
(850) 245-4299
There are three main types of cyanotoxins in Florida’s freshwater systems:
hepatotoxins (affecting the liver), neurotoxins (affecting the nervous system),
or dermatotoxins (causing topical skin irritations).
The Florida Department of Health (DOH)
advocates a common sense approach to eating fish and participating in
recreational water activities where blue-green algae blooms occur.
Report any change in the taste, smell, or color of your public drinking water to
your local utility. You may also contact your local county health department’s
environmental health program.
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