The Pennsylvania Departments of Environmental Protection and Health and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission announced on October 7th that they issued a “Do Not Eat” advisory for all fish species in the Wissahickon Creek Basin in Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. The advisory was triggered due to the high levels of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS), a “forever chemical,” found in tissue samples from the creek. The fish tissue samples showed a level of 0.04 parts per million.

The Wissahickon Creek Basin traverses Montgomery Township, Upper Gwynedd Township, Lower Gwynedd Township, Whitpain Township, Ambler Borough, Upper Dublin Township, Whitemarsh Township, Springfield Township, and the City of Philadelphia. You can view a map here. The basin covers about 64 square miles.

From the announcement regarding PFOS and the study:

PFOS is one of a group of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemical substances (PFAS) that readily build up in fish tissue. Pennsylvania’s Fish Consumption Advisory Program has been evaluating sport-caught fish in Pennsylvania waters for various contaminants, including Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, and heavy metals.  Pennsylvania recommends different quantities and frequencies for fish consumption based on the species and where it is caught.  Pennsylvania began collecting fish tissue samples to test for PFOS to incorporate those findings into the recommendations.  Levels detected in fish tissue sampled from Wissahickon Creek were over the 0.04 parts per million (40.0 ng/g) “Do Not Eat” advisory level.

The advisory has resulted in the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission canceling a trout stocking that was scheduled for October 15th in the Wissahickon Creek in Philadelphia.  The commission has scheduled a public meeting on November 5th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education to gather public input on future options for trout stock management involving the creek.

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