|
Fish Consumption Advisory for Hogan Creek and Long Branch Announced
The Duval County Health Department (DCHD) and the City of Jacksonville (COJ) are jointly issuing a Fish Consumption Advisory for largemouth bass, blue tilapia, and striped mullet from Hogan Creek and Long Branch tributaries in Health Zone 1.
The advisory recommends that people should not eat largemouth bass and striped mullet from Hogan Creek due to their contamination with polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In addition, largemouth bass and blue tilapia from Long Branch should not be consumed due to pesticide (dieldrin) contamination. The concentration of contaminants found in the mentioned fish species from these creeks could pose a health concern for the people who eat them.
This information is being provided by the Florida Department of Health (DOH) after a review of test results for fish collected and analyzed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA collected the fish from Hogan Creek and Long Branch following concerns raised by residents in the community. The EPA is working with the City of Jacksonville, DCHD and numerous local stakeholders to improve the environmental and public health concerns in Health Zone 1.
There will be public availability sessions to share information and answer questions regarding the results of the fish tissue assessment and the fish consumption advisory. Information Availability Sessions will be held:
Thursday, July 14, 2011
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Prince Community Resource Center
3315 N. Liberty Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32206
Thursday, July 14, 2011
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Robert F. Kennedy Community Center
1133 Ionia Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32206
For additional health information, call the Florida Department of Health toll-free help line 877-798-2772 during business hours. After hours, you may leave a voice mail. Outside of Florida, please call 850-245-4299 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
For more information about the fish tissue assessment in Jacksonville, contact EPA at 800-241-1754. A copy of the final report is available at http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/states/fl.html
Duval County Health Department
900 University Blvd. N.
Jacksonville, FL 32211
253-1000
|