Why has OEHHA developed a health advisory for fish from Lake Natoma (including nearby creeks and ponds) and the lower American River?
Recent studies by the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of California-Davis indicated that some species of fish in Lake Natoma contain elevated levels of mercury and could pose a health risk to people who eat them frequently. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has evaluated the health effects of eating fish from Lake Natoma and the Lower American River, and has issued a report and health advisory with guidelines for the consumption of fish from these water bodies. OEHHA recommends that individuals limit their consumption of bass, channel catfish, and other types of fish from Lake Natoma and the lower American River. One set of guidelines applies to women of childbearing age and children age 17 and younger, who are particularly sensitive to methylmercury (the most prevalent and toxic form of mercury in fish). A second set applies to women beyond their childbearing years and men. Why is mercury found in fish from this region? Mercury contamination of fis
