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High mercury levels at Fall Creek Falls have led the state to caution residents against largemouth bass consumption at Fall Creek Falls Lake.
TDEC issued the advisory Thursday after mercury levels were found to be .10 milligrams higher than the tolerable levels. The advisory urges women, nursing mothers, and children to avoid eating the fish until further notice. All other residents are urged to limit consumption to one meal per month.
Recreational activities such as boating, kayaking, or swimming carry no risk. Officials said catch-and-release fishing is also acceptable.
Fish were collected for tissue analysis in 2022. The analysis found average mercury levels of 0.40 mg/kg, compared to the .3 mg/kg trigger point.
“Precautionary fish consumption advisories are specifically directed to sensitive populations such as children, pregnant women, nursing mothers and those who may eat fish frequently from the same body of water,” TDEC Deputy Commissioner Greg Young said.
Nearly all fish contain mercury. In most cases, the levels are so low they do not cause health concerns. However, higher levels of mercury are believed to cause issues in unborn children and in the developing nervous system of children.
