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Maryland's state fish is on the rocks
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Striped bass -- also known as rockfish -- should stay off the plates of pregnant women, women of childbearing age and young children, collectively called the sensitive population by public health officials.
The general population should limit recreationally caught striped bass from eastern coastal waters to no more than one meal a month, eight ounces of fish per adult.
The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) recently issued this advisory because of high levels of mercury, PCBs (neurotoxin and probable human carcinogen), and other pollutants found in large migratory striped bass and bluefish.
Maryland’s state fish, prized by anglers for its large size and fighting ability, is silver-flanked with olive green iridescent stripes and a white underside.
The sensitive population should not eat bluefish either. Bluefish may be consumed by the general population but no more than once every other month.
Cement kilns, such as Lehigh Cement Company Kiln in Carroll County, are considered a major source of mercury pollution for the Chesapeake Bay.
The U.S. EPA is proposing to require cement plants to reduce emissions of mercury, lead and other toxic metals by more than 80% by 2013. The proposal would require Lehigh to install equipment or make other changes to limit the release of toxins.
The MDE says it’s monitoring levels of pollutants and will update consumption advisories as needed.
For more information, check this link on fish eating:
http://www.examiner.com/x-12720-DC-Environmental-Policy-Examiner~y2009m6d9-Eating-fish-Some-ground-rules
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