Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Pennsylvania Department of Health warned residents Wednesday to avoiding eating fish caught in the Neshaminy Creek basin.
The Neshaminy Creek, which runs from the central part of the county to the Delaware River on the Bristol Township and Bensalem Township border, is contaminated with “extremely high levels” of Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS). The advisory includes Neshaminy State Park and Tyler State Park, according to authorities.
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“PFOS is one of a group of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkl chemical substances (PFAS) that readily bioaccumulates in fish tissue. Prior to this year, Pennsylvania’s Fish Consumption Advisory Program has been evaluating sport-caught fish in Pennsylvania waters for various contaminants, including PCBs, pesticides, and heavy metals. This past year, Pennsylvania has adopted tiered meal advice for PFOS and has begun collecting and analyzing fish tissue samples for PFOS. Levels detected in fish tissue samples from the Neshaminy Creek watershed had levels over the 0.2 parts per million Do Not Eat advisory level,” state officials said in a press release.
PFOS pollution is a global problem. Nearby, the compounds have been found in high levels in the area of the former Naval Air Warfare Center in Warminster Township and Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove in Horsham Township, Montgomery County.
The PA Environmental Digest, which is put together by a former state environmental protection secretary, wrote that a high concentration of PFAS were detected in the Neshaminy Creek by Playwicki Park in Middletown Township. The area sits downstream from the two closed military facilities.
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State officials have said that they will be working to identify sources of the contamination and are aware of the former military installations superfund sites.
“Steps have been taken at these sites to remediate contaminated soils and groundwater. DEP is working to identify additional sources by asking permit holders in the Neshaminy Creek watershed to sample their discharges for PFAS,” the statement said.
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“An advisory like this is not something that we recommend lightly,” said Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “The possible PFOS levels found in fish tissue is greatly concerning. DEP will continue to sample fish species and revisit this recommendation in the future.”
“Whenever a stream or lake is removed from our trout stocking list, we take every opportunity to keep the fish local and place them in nearby waters for anglers to enjoy,” said Tim Schaeffer, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission executive director. “We intend to do the same in this case to preserve the opening day and trout season experiences that are so important and valued in Bucks and Montgomery Counties and across the commonwealth.”
PFOA and PFOS chemicals are believed to cause medical issues, including developmental problems for fetuses, skeletal problems, and types of cancers in adults, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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According to a state health department fact sheet, PFOS and PFOA chemicals can remain in a person’s body for long periods of time.
There is growing attention on PFOS and PFAS pollution and its known and unknown impacts. The compounds have been and are used in firefighting foam deployed at military bases, to make carpeting, and to produce numerous types of household goods.
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