Can people get cancer or leukemia from eating fish/shellfish from the river?
Certain contaminants present in LDW fish/shellfish are considered to be carcinogenic, or have the potential to cause cancer. The two major contaminants in LDW fish that can or may cause cancer in humans, arsenic and PCBs, are not associated with leukemia but have been linked to other types of cancer. The estimation of cancer risks utilizes science to the maximum extent possible, however, many assumptions are employed in this process. In general, estimated cancer risks associated with eating LDW fish are very low. Furthermore, the risk assessment methodologies used in this PHA are likely to overestimate the true risk of cancer. CONCLUSIONS • People who eat large amounts of resident (nonanadromous) fish caught in the LDW may be at some risk for adverse health effects. The primary health concern is the potential for adverse effects on the development of children following exposure in the womb. Exposure of the fetus to mercury and PCBs has been shown to impair learning and behavior during
