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PFAS in Fish

A fresh brown trout in the palm of an angler

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.

Eat Safe Fish from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

For the full list of fish guidelines pertaining to all chemicals for all waterbodies, visit:

Michigan.gov/EatSafeFish

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