National Maps and Graphics
US EPA
National Fish Contamination Program
2003 Advisory Listing
- The 2003 NLFWA database lists 3,089 advisories in 48 states, the District of Columbia, and the US Territory of American Samoa. The number of waterbodies under advisory represents:
- 35% of the Nation's total lake acres, or approximately 101,818 lakes
- 24% of the Nation's total river miles, or approximately 846,310 river miles
- 71% of the Nation's contiguous coastal waters including 92% of the Atlantic coast and 100% of the Gulf coast
- 100% of the Great Lakes and their connecting waters.
- There were 31 states with statewide advisories in effect in 2003, including new statewide advisories for all rivers and lakes in Montana and Washington, and a advisory for marine fish in Hawaii.
- In addition, 1.9% of the Nation's river miles and 11% of the Nation's lake acres had Safe Eating Guidelines in effect in 2003.
Slide 1
Bioaccumulative Pollutants
- Although current advisories in the United States have been issued for 40 different pollutants, most advisories involve five primary bioaccumulative contaminants:
- Mercury—2,362 advisories active in 2003 (up 10% from 2002)
- PCBs—884 advisories active in 2003 (up 9% from 2002)
- Chlordane—89 advisories active in 2003 (down from 97 advisories in 2002)
- Dioxins—90 advisories active in 2003 (up from 74 advisories in 2002)
- DDT and metabolites—52 advisories active in 2003 (up from 48 in 2002)
- The increase in advisories issued by the states generally reflects an increase in the number of assessments of contaminants in fish and wildlife tissues.
Slide 2
Fish Consumption Advisories
Total Number, 2003
Slide 3, with image
Fish Consumption Advisories
Trends in Number of Lake Acres under Advisory, 2003
Slide 4, with image
Fish Consumption Advisories
Trends in Number of River Miles under Advisory, 2003
Slide 5, with image
Fish Consumption Advisories
Percentage of Lake Acres/River Miles under Advisory, 1993-2003
Slide 6, with image
Fish Consumption Advisories
For Mercury, 2003
NOTE: This map depicts the presence and type of fish advisories issued by the states for mercury as of December 2002. Because only selected waterbodies are monitored, this map does not reflect the full extent of chemical contamination of fish tissues in each state or province.
Slide 7, with image
Fish Consumption Advisories
Number of Safe Eating Guidelines, 2003
Slide 8, with image
Fish Consumption Advisories
Number of Safe Eating Guidelines, 2003
- Safe-eating guidelines are issued to inform the public that certain species of fish from specific waterbodies have been tested and have been shown to contain very low levels of contaminants. Guidelines can also be issued for all waterbodies in a state.
- Safe-eating guideline data should not be used for:
- Characterizing geographic distribution of chemical contaminants
- Making interstate or international comparisons.
- Safe-eating guidelines in the NLFWA database are updated as new information is provided to US EPA's National Fish Contamination Program
Slide 9
Fish Consumption Advisories
National Trends, 1993-2003
Slide 10, with image
Fish Consumption Advisories
Lake Acres and River Miles Under a Fish Advisory, 2003
Slide 11, with image
Fish Consumption Advisories
States with One or More Fish Advisories of Any Type
Slide 12, with image
Fish Consumption Advisories
States with One or More Mercury Fish Advisories
Slide 13, with image
