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PFAS in Fish
PFAS in Fish
MDHHS releases Eat Safe Fish Guides annually in the Spring, and emergency advisories as needed. Fish across the state are tested for PFAS in addition to other chemicals such as mercury, as all fish have some amount of mercury. As new guidelines are set as a result of elevated levels of PFOS, Michigan is releasing those advisories outside of the annual Eat Safe Fish Guides update.
The Eat Safe Fish guidelines are set to be protective for everyone including children and pregnant and breastfeeding women, and people with existing health problems such as cancer or diabetes. Michigan has been routinely testing fish filets for PFAS since 2012.
Eat Safe Fish guidelines are provided as MI Servings. One MI Serving for adults is 6-8 ounces of fish (about the size of an adult’s hand). For children, one MI Serving is 2-4 ounces of fish (about the size of an adult’s palm).
In water bodies with fish that have a PFOS guideline, touching the fish or water and swimming are not considered a health concern as PFAS do not move easily through the skin. An occasional swallow of river or lake water is also not considered a health concern. Guidelines do exist regarding foam on water bodies. For more information about PFAS in foam, visit the PFAS foam page.
For the full list of fish guidelines pertaining to all chemicals for all waterbodies, visit:
Consumption guidelines for fish with elevated PFOS levels
Region | County | Waterbody | Type of Fish | Chemical of Concern | Size | MI Servings Per Month |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northeast | Alcona, Iosco | Cedar Lake | Yellow Perch | Mercury, PFOS | <10" | 4 |
Northeast | Alcona, Iosco | Cedar lake | Yellow Perch | PFOS | >10" | 2 |
Northeast | Crawford | Lake Margrethe | Bluegill | PFOS | Any | 8 |
Northeast | Crawford | Lake Margrethe | Sunfish | PFOS | Any | 8 |
Northeast | Iosco | Allen Lake | All Species Except Bluegill, Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass (see Eat Safe Fish Northeast Regional Guide for more information) | PFOS | Any | Do Not Eat |
Northeast | Iosco | Au Sable River (downstream of the Foote Dam; includes Van Etten Creek) | Carp | PCBs | Any | Limited |
Northeast | Iosco | Au Sable River (downstream of the Foote Dam; includes Van Etten Creek) | Migratory Species (brown trout, chinook salmon, coho salmon, rainbow trout, steelhead, and walleye) | PCBs Dioxins (walleye only) |
Any | 6 Per Year |
Northeast | Iosco | Au Sable River (downstream of the Foote Dam; includes Van Etten Creek) | All Other Species | PFOS | Any | Do Not Eat |
Northeast | Iosco | Clark's Marsh | Bluegill | PFOS | Any | Do Not Eat |
Northeast | Iosco | Clark's Marsh | Sunfish | PFOS | Any | Do Not Eat |
Northeast | Iosco | Clark's Marsh | All Other Species | PFOS | Any | Do Not Eat |
Northeast | Iosco | Simpson Lake | Bluegill, Sunfish | PFOS | Any | 2 |
Northeast | Iosco | Van Etten Lake | Black Crappie | PFOS | Any | 2 |
Northeast | Iosco | Van Etten Lake | Bluegill, Sunfish | PFOS | Any | 2 |
Northeast | Iosco | Van Etten Lake | Largemouth Bass | Mercury & PFOS | Under 16" | 2 |
Northeast | Iosco | Van Etten Lake | Largemouth Bass | Mercury | Over 16" | 1 |
Northeast | Iosco | Van Etten Lake | Smallmouth Bass | Mercury & PFOS | Under 16" | 2 |
Northeast | Iosco | Van Etten Lake | Smallmouth Bass | Mercury | Over 16" | 1 |
Northeast | Iosco | Van Etten Lake | Rock Bass | Mercury & PFOS | Under 8" | 8 |
Northeast | Iosco | Van Etten Lake | Rock Bass | Mercury | 8"-10" | 4 |
Northeast | Iosco | Van Etten Lake | Rock Bass | Mercury | Over 10" | 2 |
Northeast | Iosco | Van Etten Lake | Suckers | Mercury & PFOS | Under 14" | 8 |
Northeast | Iosco | Van Etten Lake | Suckers | Mercury | 14"-18" | 4 |
Northeast | Iosco | Van Etten Lake | Suckers | Mercury | Over 18" | 2 |
Northeast | Iosco | Van Etten Lake | White Crappie | PFOS | Any | 2 |
Northeast | Iosco | Van Etten Lake | Yellow Perch | PFOS | Under 10" | 2 |
Northeast | Iosco | Van Etten Lake | Yellow Perch | Mercury & PFOS | Over 10" | 2 |
Northeast | Roscommon | Higgins Lake | Smelt | PFOS | Any | 4 |
Northwest, Southwest | Manistee | Manistee River (upstream of Tippy Dam) | Rock Bass | Mercury, PFOS | <9" | 4 |
Northwest, Southwest | Manistee | Manistee River (upstream of Tippy Dam) | Rock Bass | Mercury | >9" | 2 |
Northwest, Southwest | Lake, Mason, Newaygo, Oceana | Pere Marquette River (including Sanborn Creek and Baldwin River) | Bluegill, Sunfish | PFOS | Any | 6/yr |
Northwest, Southwest | Lake, Mason, Newaygo, Oceana | Pere Marquette River (including Sanborn Creek and Baldwin River) | Rock Bass | PFOS | Any | 1 |
Northwest, Southwest | Lake, Mason, Newaygo, Oceana | Pere Marquette River (including Sanborn Creek and Baldwin River) | Yellow Perch | PFOS | Any | 1 |
Northwest, Southwest | Mason | Pere Marquette Lake | Bluegill, Sunfish | PFOS | Any | 6/yr |
Northwest, Southwest | Mason | Pere Marquette Lake | Rock Bass | PFOS | Any | 1 |
Northwest, Southwest | Mason | Pere Marquette Lake | Rock Bass | PFOS | Any | 1 |
Southeast | Bay | Squaconning Creek | Bluegill, Sunfish | PFOS | Any | 2 |
Southeast | Bay | Squaconning Creek | Yellow Perch | PFOS | Any | 2 |
Southeast | Bay, Saginaw | Saginaw River | Bluegill | PFOS | Any | 4 |
Southeast | Bay, Saginaw | Saginaw River | Largemouth Bass | Mercury, PCBs, & PFOS | Under 18" | 2 |
Southeast | Bay, Saginaw | Saginaw River | Largemouth Bass | Mercury | Over 18" | 1 |
Southeast | Bay, Saginaw | Saginaw River | Smallmouth Bass | Mercury, PCBs, & PFOS | Under 18" | 2 |
Southeast | Bay, Saginaw | Saginaw River | Smallmouth Bass | Mercury | Over 18" | 1 |
Southeast | Bay, Saginaw | Saginaw River | Sunfish | PFOS | Any | 4 |
Southeast | Genesee | Flint Park Lake | Bluegill | PFOS | Any | 2 |
Southeast | Genesee | Flint Park Lake | Sunfish | PFOS | Any | 2 |
Southeast | Genesee, Lapeer | Flint River (upstream of Mott Dam, including the Mott and Holloway Reservoirs and North and South Branches of the Flint River) | Carp | PFOS | Any | 2 |
Southeast | Genesee, Lapeer | Flint River (upstream of Mott Dam, including the Mott and Holloway Reservoirs and North and South Branches of the Flint River) | Largemouth Bass | PFOS | Any | 6 Per Year |
Southeast | Genesee, Lapeer | Flint River (upstream of Mott Dam, including the Mott and Holloway Reservoirs and North and South Branches of the Flint River) | Rock Bass | PFOS | Any | 1 |
Southeast | Genesee, Lapeer | Flint River (upstream of Mott Dam, including the Mott and Holloway Reservoirs and North and South Branches of the Flint River) | Smallmouth Bass | PFOS | Any | 6 Per Year |
Southeast | Genesee, Lapeer | Flint River (upstream of Mott Dam, including the Mott and Holloway Reservoirs and North and South Branches of the Flint River) | Walleye | PFOS | Any | 1 |
Southeast | Genesee | Kearsley Creek & Reservoir | Bluegill | Mercury & PFOS | Any | 16 |
Southeast | Genesee | Kearsley Creek & Reservoir | Sunfish | Mercury & PFOS | Any | 16 |
Southeast | Genesee | Kearsley Creek & Reservoir | Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass | Mercury, PFOS | <16" | 2 |
Southeast | Genesee | Kearsley Creek & Reservoir | Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass |
PFOS | >16" | 1 |
Southeast | Lapeer | Lake Pleasant | Bluegill | PFOS | Any | 4 |
Southeast | Lapeer | Lake Pleasant | Largemouth Bass | Mercury & PFOS | Under 18" | 1 |
Southeast | Lapeer | Lake Pleasant | Largemouth Bass | Mercury | Over 18" | 6 Per Year |
Southeast | Lapeer | Lake Pleasant | Smallmouth Bass | Mercury & PFOS | Under 18" | 1 |
Southeast | Lapeer | Lake Pleasant | Smallmouth Bass | Mercury | Over 18" | 6 Per Year |
Southeast | Lapeer | Lake Pleasant | Sunfish | PFOS | Any | 4 |
Southeast | Livingston | Bennett Lake | Bluegill, Sunfish | PFOS, Mercury | Any | 4 |
Southeast | Livingston | Moraine Lake | Black Crappie | Mercury & PFOS | Under 8" | 16 |
Southeast | Livingston | Moraine Lake | Black Crappie | Mercury | Over 8" | 8 |
Southeast | Livingston | Moraine Lake | White Crappie | Mercury & PFOS | Under 8" | 16 |
Southeast | Livingston | Moraine Lake | White Crappie | Mercury | Over 8" | 8 |
Southeast | Livingston | Moraine Lake | Bluegill | Mercury & PFOS | Any | 16 |
Southeast | Livingston | Moraine Lake | Sunfish | Mercury & PFOS | Any | 16 |
Southeast | Livingston | Whitmore Lake | Bluegill | Mercury & PFOS | Any | 16 |
Southeast | Livingston | Whitmore Lake | Sunfish | Mercury & PFOS | Any | 16 |
Southeast | Macomb | Clinton River (downstream of Yates Dam) - includes Red Run, North Branch, and Middle Branch | Rock Bass | PFOS | Any | 1 |
Southeast | Macomb, Oakland | Clinton River (upstream of Yates Dam, including Stony Creek up to the Winkler Pond Dam) | Rock bass | PFOS | Any | 4 |
Southeast | Macomb, St. Clair, Wayne | Lake St. Clair | Bluegill | PFOS | Any | 4 |
Southeast | Macomb, St. Clair, Wayne | Lake St. Clair | Sunfish | PFOS | Any | 4 |
Southeast | Monroe | River Raisin (upstream of Dundee Dam, including Dundee Pond) | Bluegill | Mercury & PFOS | Any | 8 |
Southeast | Monroe | River Raisin (upstream of Dundee Dam, including Dundee Pond) | Sunfish | Mercury & PFOS | Any | 8 |
Southeast | Monroe | Saline River (downstream of Milan Dam) | Bluegill, Sunfish | PFOS | Any | 2 |
Southeast | Oakland | Cass Lake | Largemouth Bass | Mercury & PFOS | Under 18" | 1 |
Southeast | Oakland | Cass Lake | Largemouth Bass | Mercury | Over 18" | 6 Per Year |
Southeast | Oakland | Cass Lake | Smallmouth Bass | Mercury & PFOS | Under 18" | 1 |
Southeast | Oakland | Cass Lake | Smallmouth Bass | Mercury | Over 18" | 6 Per Year |
Southeast | Oakland | Long Lake | Largemouth Bass | PFOS | Any | 1 |
Southeast | Oakland | Long Lake | Smallmouth Bass | PFOS | Any | 1 |
Southeast | Oakland | Proud Lake | Largemouth Bass | PFOS | Any | 6 Per Year |
Southeast | Oakland | Proud Lake | Smallmouth Bass | PFOS | Any | 6 Per Year |
Southeast | Oakland | Proud Lake | Bluegill, Sunfish | PFOS, Mercury | Any | 4 |
Southeast | Wayne | Rouge River, Lower Branch and Main Branch (downstream of Ford Estate Dam in Dearborn) | Bluegill | PFOS | Any | Do Not Eat |
Southeast | Wayne | Rouge River, Lower Branch and Main Branch (downstream of Ford Estate Dam in Dearborn) | Sunfish | PFOS | Any | Do Not Eat |
Southeast | Wayne | Washago Pond | Bluegill | PFOS | Any | 2 |
Southeast | Wayne | Washago Pond | Sunfish | PFOS | Any | 2 |
Southeast | Livingston, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne | Huron River starting where N. Wixom Road crosses in Oakland County and extending downstream to where I-275 crosses the river in Wayne County. This includes: Norton Creek (Oakland County), Hubbell Pond, also known as Mill Pond (Oakland County), Kent Lake (Oakland County), Ore Lake (Livingston County), Strawberry & Zukey Lake (Livingston County), Gallagher Lake (Livingston County), Loon Lake (Livingston County), Whitewood Lakes (Livingston County), Base Line & Portage Lakes (Livingston/Washtenaw County line), Barton Pond (Washtenaw County), Geddes Pond (Washtenaw County), Argo Pond (Washtenaw County), Ford Lake (Washtenaw County), Belleville Lake (Wayne County). | all species | PFOS | Any | Do Not Eat |
Southeast | Wayne, Monroe | Huron River starting where I-275 crosses the river in Wayne County to Lake Erie. This includes: Flat Rock Impoundment. | Bluegill | PFOS | Any | 8 |
Southeast | Wayne, Monroe | Huron River starting where I-275 crosses the river in Wayne County to Lake Erie. This includes: Flat Rock Impoundment. | Rock Bass | PFOS | Any | Do Not Eat |
Southeast | Wayne, Monroe | Huron River starting where I-275 crosses the river in Wayne County to Lake Erie. This includes: Flat Rock Impoundment. | Sunfish | PFOS | Any | 8 |
Southeast | Wayne, Monroe | Huron River starting where I-275 crosses the river in Wayne County to Lake Erie. This includes: Flat Rock Impoundment. | All Other Species | PCBs, Dioxins, Mercury | Any | See Eat Safe Fish Guide for guidelines for other species |
Southwest | Barry, Kent | Thornapple River (downstream of the Middleville Dam in Barry County; includes the Ada Impoundment, the Cascade Impoundment, and the LaBarge Impoundment in Kent County) | Bluegill | Mercury & PFOS | Under 6" | 12 |
Southwest | Barry, Kent | Thornapple River (downstream of the Middleville Dam in Barry County; includes the Ada Impoundment, the Cascade Impoundment, and the LaBarge Impoundment in Kent County) | Bluegill | Mercury | Over 6" | 4 |
Southwest | Barry, Kent | Thornapple River (downstream of the Middleville Dam in Barry County; includes the Ada Impoundment, the Cascade Impoundment, and the LaBarge Impoundment in Kent County) | Sunfish | Mercury & PFOS | Under 6" | 12 |
Southwest | Barry, Kent | Thornapple River (downstream of the Middleville Dam in Barry County; includes the Ada Impoundment, the Cascade Impoundment, and the LaBarge Impoundment in Kent County) | Sunfish | Mercury | Over 6" | 4 |
Southwest | Berrien | St. Joseph River (downstream of the Berrien Springs Dam) | Rock Bass | PFOS | Any | 1 |
Southwest | Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph | St. Joseph River (between the Mottville Dam in St. Joseph County and the Berrien Springs Dam in Berrien County, including Lake Chapin) | Bluegill | PFOS | Any | 4 |
Southwest | Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph | St. Joseph River (between the Mottville Dam in St. Joseph County and the Berrien Springs Dam in Berrien County, including Lake Chapin) | Sunfish | PFOS | Any | 4 |
Southwest | Calhoun | Beaver Dam Pond (including Helmer Creek) | All Species | PFOS | Any | Do Not Eat |
Southwest | Calhoun, Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo River (between Marshall Dam and Morrow Dam) | Bluegill | PFOS | Any | 4 |
Southwest | Calhoun, Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo River (between Marshall Dam and Morrow Dam) | Sunfish | PFOS | Any | 4 |
Southwest | Calhoun, Kalamazoo | Kalamazoo River (between Marshall Dam and Morrow Dam) | Rock Bass | PFOS | Any | 4 |
Southwest | Gratiot | Rainbow Lake | Bluegill | Mercury & PFOS | Any | 16 |
Southwest | Gratiot | Rainbow Lake | Sunfish | Mercury & PFOS | Any | 16 |
Southwest | Jackson | Grass Lake | Bluegill | PFOS | Any | 4 |
Southwest | Jackson | Grass Lake | Sunfish | PFOS | Any | 4 |
Southwest | Jackson | Grass Lake | Rock Bass | PFOS | Under 7" | 2 |
Southwest | Jackson | Grass Lake | Rock Bass | Mercury & PFOS | Over 7" | 2 |
Southwest | Kalamazoo | Markin Glen Pond | Bluegill | Mercury & PFOS | Any | 8 |
Southwest | Kalamazoo | Markin Glen Pond | Sunfish | Mercury & PFOS | Any | 8 |
Southwest | Kent | Freska Lake | Bluegill | Mercury & PFOS | Any | 2 |
Southwest | Kent | Freska Lake | Sunfish | Mercury & PFOS | Any | 2 |
Southwest | Kent | Ponds at 4300 Cannonsburg Rd, Belmont | All Species | PFOS | Any | Do Not Eat |
Southwest | Kent | Rogue River (downstream of Rockford Dam) | Brown Trout | PFOS | Any | 2 |
Southwest | Kent | Rogue River (downstream of Rockford Dam) | Rock Bass | PFOS | Any | 4 |
Southwest | Kent | Rogue River (upstream of Rockford Dam) | Brown Trout | PFOS | Any | 2 |
Southwest | Kent | Rogue River (upstream of Rockford Dam) | Largemouth Bass | Mercury & PFOS | Under 18" | 2 |
Southwest | Kent | Rogue River (upstream of Rockford Dam) | Largemouth Bass | Mercury | Over 18" | 1 |
Southwest | Kent | Rogue River (upstream of Rockford Dam) | Smallmouth Bass | Mercury & PFOS | Under 18" | 2 |
Southwest | Kent | Rogue River (upstream of Rockford Dam) | Smallmouth Bass | Mercury | Over 18" | 1 |
Southwest | Kent | Rogue River (upstream of Rockford Dam) | Suckers | Mercury & PFOS | Any | 4 |
Southwest | Kent | Walden Lake | All Species | PFOS | Any | 6 Per Year |
Southwest | Kent | Versluis Lake | Bluegill | Mercury & PFOS | Any | 4 |
Southwest | Kent | Versluis Lake | Sunfish | Mercury & PFOS | Any | 4 |
Southwest | St. Joseph | Long Lake | Bluegill | Mercury & PFOS | Any | 12 |
Southwest | Kent | Long Lake | Largemouth Bass | Mercury | Under 18" | 2 |
Southwest | Kent | Long Lake | Largemouth Bass | Mercury | Over 18" | 1 |
Southwest | Kent | Long Lake | Smallmouth Bass | Mercury | Under 18" | 2 |
Southwest | Kent | Long Lake | Smallmouth Bass | Mercury | Over 18" | 1 |
Southwest | St. Joseph | Long Lake | Sunfish | Mercury & PFOS | Any | 12 |
Upper Peninsula | Marquette | Silver Lead Creek | Brook Trout | PCBs & PFOS | Any | 2 |
Upper Peninsula | N/A | Lake Superior | Rainbow Smelt | PFOS | Any | 1 |