Do you eat fish from the Haw River, Jordan Lake or other local waters? ¿Come pescado del río Haw, del lago Jordán o de otras aguas locales?
Eating a variety of fish can help you stay healthy. Fish are a good source of protein and other vitamins and minerals. But pollution like PFAS chemicals in the Haw River from industries pose a significant risk to human health for a diet high in local fish. In 2023 the NC Dept of Health and Human Services studied levels of PFAS in fish in the nearby Cape Fear River and released guidance that no or few fish should be eaten from the river. We believe the same guidance applies to the Haw River which also has high levels of PFAS. Recent studies have been taken on the Haw River and we are awaiting results.
Another concern is mercury in fish, a problem in all waters of NC and which is especially dangerous for children and pregnant women.
Please refer to the following information regarding which fish you can safely eat on the Haw River. We regret to say that consuming fish in the Haw is dangerous and we want this information to be available to everyone in our community.
