A final Public Health Consultation released by the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) today confirms that dioxin levels in some Tittabawassee River fish represent a public health hazard if consumed on a reoccurring basis, officials said today.

Following the advice in the Michigan Family Fish Consumption Guide will reduce a person’s exposure to dioxins from consumption of Tittabawassee River fish, said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director.

The most contaminated fish in the Tittabawassee River are carp, catfish and whitebass. MDCH recommends that people avoid eating these fish. Women of childbearing age and children under the age of 15 years old are further recommended not to eat smallmouth bass from the Tittabawassee River. The general population (women not of childbearing age and children over the age of 15) can eat smallmouth bass once per week.

Walleye, a migratory fish from Lake Huron that travels through the Saginaw River to reach the Tittabawassee River, contains some of the lowest dioxin levels. Women and children can safely eat one meal per month of walleye under 22 inches and six meals-per-year of walleye over 22 inches. For the general population, consumption of walleye less than 22 inches is unrestricted. The general population should eat only 1 meal-per-week of walleye over 22 inches.

All other fish in the Tittabawassee can be safely eaten at a rate of one meal-per-month for women and children, and one meal-per-week for the general population.

The MDCH Division of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology conducted this consultation under a cooperative agreement with the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).

The purpose of the consultation was to assess the potential for health risks associated with dioxin exposure from both average and frequent ingestion of Tittabawassee River fish. The average consumer was estimated to consume one meal of Tittabawassee River fish per month. Frequent consumption was estimated to be 5 to 7 meals per month of Tittabawassee River fish. Frequent consumers of fish would ingest higher amounts of dioxins and were estimated to have a higher level of health risks.

The consultation, entitled Tittabawassee River Fish Health Consultation, is available on the MDCH web page, or by calling the MDCH toll free at 1-800-648-6942. Copies of the report are available to the public at the following locations:

• The Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, 1710 West St. Andrews, Midland
• The Midland County Health Department, 220 W. Ellsworth Street, Midland
• The Saginaw County Health Department, 1600 N. Michigan Avenue, Saginaw
• The Tittabawassee Township Office, 145 South 2nd Street, Freeland
• The Zauel (Saginaw Township) Library, 3100 N. Center Road, Saginaw
• The Thomas Township Library, 8207 Shields Drive, Saginaw
• The James Township Hall, 6060 Swan Creek Road, Saginaw
• The Hoyt Library, 505 Janes Avenue, Saginaw
• The Saginaw Bay-District office of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, 503 N. Euclid Avenue, Suite 9, Bay City

Questions regarding this consultation should be addressed to:

Kory Groetsch
Michigan Department of Community Health
Division of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
3423 North Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
P.O. Box 30195
Lansing, Michigan 48909