Is the fish you're eating contaminated?
State officials say some species 
near Seal Beach Pier are hazardous.
By JAIMEE LYNN FLETCHER
The Orange County Register


SEAL BEACH – State officials are 
urging Orange County residents 
to take caution when eating local 
fish because they may be contaminated 
with harmful chemicals. 

The Office of Environmental Health 
Hazard Assessment this month released 
a health advisory saying 19 species 
of fish from Santa Monica Beach to the 
Seal Beach Pier have elevated levels 
of chemicals.

An environmental study found potentially 
unsafe levels of mercury, chlordane and 
PCBs and DDTs, man-made chemicals 
released in California sewer systems that 
were banned in the 1980s. 

The study focused on sport fish, which 
are caught by local fishermen or individuals.  

While PCBs and DDTs can be reduced by 
removing the skin and fat from various fish, 
there are no known techniques for eliminating 
mercury, according to the state agency. 

The report stated that while most of the 
contaminated species are safe to eat in 
limited quantities, women younger than 45 
and children up to age 17 are more sensitive 
to the toxic effects of the chemicals. 

Five fish were labeled "do not eat" for 
children and women up to age 45, including 
barred sea bass, top smelt and white croaker, 
also known as kingfish. 

Other fish, such as the California halibut, 
rockfish and sardines, are OK to eat once a 
week, the report stated. 

Seal Beach is the only Orange County area 
tagged a red zone for fish with potentially 
toxic levels of chemicals. Beaches stretching 
south to San Mateo Point near San Clemente 
are labeled yellow areas, which list only 
the barracuda and the black croaker as 
"do not eat" species for women and children, 
the agency reported. 

For more information on safe eating 
guidelines for fish, visit http://www.oehha.org/. 

Contact the writer: jfletcher@ocregister.com 
or 949-553-2932

Should I eat it?
Here's a list of safe consumption of fish based 
on age, geographic area and species released by 
the Office of Environmental Health Hazard 
Assessment. 

The red zone is from Santa Monica to Seal Beach, 
the yellow zone stretches from Seal Beach to 
San Mateo Point. 

Jacksmelt: Four times a week for children 
and women under 45 and seven times a week for men 
and women over 45 in red and yellow zones. 

Pacific chub mackerel: Safe for up to four 
servings a week for women over 45 and men, two 
servings a week for children and women under 45 
in red and yellow zones. 

Corbina: Two servings a week for children 
and adults in red and yellow zones. 

Opaleye: Two servings a week for children 
and adults in red and yellow zones. 

Queenfish: Two servings a week for children 
and adults in red and yellow zones. 

Surfperches: Two servings a week for 
children and adults in red and yellow zones.

Yellowfin croaker: Two servings a week 
for children and adults in red and yellow zones. 

Sargo: One serving a week for children 
and adults in red and yellow zones. 

California halibut: One serving a week for 
children and women under 45; two servings a week 
for men and women over 45 in red and yellow zones. 

Shovelnose guitarfish: One serving a week 
for children and women under 45; two servings a 
week for men and women over 45 in red and yellow 
zones. 

Rockfishes: One serving a week for children 
and women under 45; two servings a week for men 
and women over 45 in red and yellow zones. 

California scorpion fish: One serving a 
week for adults and children in red and yellow zones. 

Sardines: One serving a week for adults 
and children in red and yellow zones.

Kelp bass: One serving a week for adults 
and children in red and yellow zones. 

Black Croaker: Do not eat for children 
and women under 45 in red and yellow zones. 
Men and women over 45 can eat one serving a week. 

Top smelt: Do not eat in red zones. 
It is safe to eat up to two servings for adults 
and children in yellow zones. 

Barred sand bass: Do not eat in red zones. 
It is safe to eat up to two servings for adults 
and children in yellow zones. 

White croaker: Do not eat in red zones. 
It is safe to eat one serving a week for women 
under 45 and children and two servings a week 
for men and women over 45 in yellow zones. 

Barracuda: Do not eat for women under 45 
and children in red and yellow zones. Men and 
women over 45 can eat a serving a week in yellow 
zones. 

Source: Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment