Elevated PFAS found in fish from 4 Central Mass. lakes and ponds. What you need to know

Marco Cartolano, Telegram & Gazette
·2 min read
Lake Quinsigamond at Lake Park, Worcester.
Lake Quinsigamond at Lake Park, Worcester.

Lake Quinsigamond is among four Worcester County bodies of water that are under new fish consumption advisories from the state Department of Public Health due to elevated levels of PFAS — toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Elevated levels of PFAS were also detected in fish from Dunn Pond in Gardner, Dennison Lake in Winchendon and Wallum Lake in Douglas.

More:How good is water quality of Worcester's lakes, ponds? Report gives answers

In total, 13 water bodies within Massachusetts state parks received new fish consumption advisories due to elevated PFAS levels.

The others include:

  • Ashland Reservoir in Ashland

  • Chicopee Reservoir in Chicopee

  • Lake Cochituate in Natick

  • Fearing Pond in Plymouth

  • Houghtons Pond in Milton

  • Pearce Lake in Saugus

  • Pequot Pond in Westfield

  • Walden Pond in Concord

  • Watsons Pond in Taunton

Surface water was sampled at all locations and PFAS was not found at levels that would be unsafe for swimming or other recreational activities, according to the DPH.

Exposure to certain PFAS, a group of man-made chemicals used in a variety of products and industries, has been associated with changes in liver and kidney function, changes in thyroid hormone and cholesterol levels, and immune system effects.

PFAS exposure has been shown to impact the development of fetuses during pregnancy and some studies suggest an increased risk of developing cancer after long-term exposures to elevated levels of some PFAS.

DPH advisories

The consumption advisories vary based in the levels of PFAS found in the sampled fish, other contaminants in the body of water and who may eat the fish.

For Lake Quinsigamond, the DPH advises the general public to only eat freshwater fish caught at the lake no more than once every two months, or once every six months for children under 12, pregnant women, nursing mothers and women of child-bearing age.

For Dunn Pond, the DPH advises the general public to eat freshwater fish caught at the pond no more than once a month. Children under 12, pregnant women, nursing mothers and women of child-bearing age are advised not to eat fish from the pond.

For Dennison Lake, the DPH advises the general public to only eat freshwater fish caught at the lake no more than twice per month. Children under 12, pregnant women, nursing mothers and women of child-bearing age are advised not to not eat largemouth bass from the lake, and not to eat other fish more than once a month.

For Wallum Lake, the DPH advises the general public to eat freshwater fish caught at the lake no more than twice per month; and no more than once a month for children under 12, pregnant women, nursing mothers and women of child-bearing age.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Elevated PFAS found in fish from Lake Quinsigamond, Dunn Pond, Wallum