EPARTMENT ROY COOPER Governor HAN MANDY COHEN MD MPH Secreta . FY MAN SERVICES . . . . . . BETH LOVETTE, MPH, BSN, RN Acting Director, of Public Health June 27, 2019 Phillip Tart Health Director New Hanover Public Health, Re: March 2019 Lake Sutton fish tissue sampling Dear Mr. Tart, Based upon the current data we would recommend the following fish advisory: The North Carolina Division of Public Health (DPH), Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch (OEEB), has reviewed fish tissue data for largemouth bass, redear sunfish, and bluegill sunfish in Lake Sutton. After reviewing the data, DPH recommends that Lake Sutton follow the statewide mercury advisory for fish?. Based on the statewide mercury advisory for largemouth bass (HIGH in mercury) and bluegill sunfish (LOW in mercury), the North Carolina Division of Public Health recommends the following meal guidance: Statewide Mercury Fish. Consumption AdVIsory Women of Childbearing Age (15- -44 years), Pregnant Women, Nursing Women and Children under 15: HIGH in mercury Do not eat, includes cat?sh and largemouth bass LOW in mercury Up to 2 meals per week All Other Individuals: No more than 1 meal per week, includes cat?sh and largemouth bass HIGH in mercury LOW in mercury Up to 4 meals per week This fish consumption advisory is based on an increased risk of harm to neurological and brain development in unborn and young children which can affect a child?s ability to think, learn, and problem-solve later in life. Effects can also occur in adults at much higher doses. The earliest obvious signs of mercury poisoning in adults are tingling or numbness of the lips, tongue, fingers, or toes; fatigue; and blurred vision. We will be adding this fish advisory to the OEEB website in the coming weeks. More information regarding the March 2019 fish sampling and analysis of the data can be found in Attachments A and B. 1 No DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION or PUBLIC HEALTH LOCATION: 5505 Six Forks Road. Raleigh, NC 27609 MAILING ADDRESS: 1912 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27609 - - AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY I AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER DEPARTMENT OF ROY COOPER - Governor ALTH AND MANDY COHEN, MD, MPH - Secretary MAN SERVICES . . . . . . BETH LOVETTE, MPH, BSN, RN - Director. of Publlo Health OEEB staff are available to assist the affected county health departments in developing signs and educational materials, as well as other technical support. if you have any questions, please contact me at 919-707-5910 or by email at kennedy.holt@dhhs.nc.gov. Kennedy Holt Chemical Risk Assessor Public Health, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services 2 NC DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH LOCATION: 5505 Six Forks Road, Raleigh. NC 27609 MAILING ADDRESS: 1912 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27609 - TEL: 919-707-7900 - FAX: 919-870-4808 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER EPARTMENT ROY COOPER - Governor ALTH AND MANDY COHEN MD MPH - Secreta MAN SERVICES . . . BETH LOVETTE, MPH, BSN, RN - Acting DIrector. of PubIIc Health Attachment A Fish Sampling Summary: In March 2019, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) collected 11 largemouth bass, 8 redear sunfish, and 3 bluegill sunfish samples for mercury from Lake Sutton. Samples were analyzed as scaled, skin on filets as this represents the most commonly consumed part of the fish. DEQ finalized their fish tissue analysis in June 2019 and provided the data to for evaluation. A summary ofthe results can be found in Attachment B. Individual fish tissue concentrations were averaged to give an estimate of the mercury concentrations in the fillets of the largemouth bass, bluegill sunfish, and redear sunfish populations. However, due to an insufficient number of bluegill sunfish samples collected the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services could not issue a site- specific fish consumption advisory for bluegill sunfishz. The average mercury concentrations from the fish tissue data were then compared the NC DPH screening levels do determine whether a full risk assessment should be conducted on the data. Only largemouth bass had an average mercury concentration that exceeded NC DPH screening levels. After analyzing the largemouth bass, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology (OEE) calculated a 3-meals-per-week limit for largemouth bass. Meal limits are rounded to the nearest whole number. However, the meal limits from the statewide advisory are more restrictive and OEE recommends adhering to the statewide mercury advisory. Limitations of the Fish Sampling: The data that were collected from the March 2019 fish sampling event and health risk assessment are specific to the species collected. The conclusion and recommendations do not pertain to fish species not sampled. Additionally, any advisories or health risks for largemouth bass, bluegill sunfish, and redear sunfish are based solely on the mercury analysis and do not account for any other potential contaminants in the fish. The data presented in this evaluation are only representative of mercury concentrations at the time the fish were collected. Concentrations could increase or decrease over time. The limitations outlined above would warrant continued sampling of the largemouth bass and bluegill sunfish for mercury to monitor concentrations in the population over time. Also, it is recommended that OEE work with DEQ to determine future sampling dates of the largemouth 3 NC DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH LOCATION: 5505 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27609 MAILING ADDRESS: 1912 Mail Service Center, Raleigh. NC 27609 - TEL: 919-707-7900 FAX: 919-870-4808 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER EPARTMENT ROY COOPER - Governor EALTH AND MANDY COHEN MD MPH . Secretary UMAN SERVICES . . . . . BETH LOVETTE, MPH, BSN, RN - Acting Director. of Public Health bass, bluegill sunfish, and redear sunfish for mercury and other contaminants to more accurately assess the status of fish in Lake Sutton. 4 NC DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH LOCATION: 5505 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27609 MAILING ADDRESS: 1912 Mail Service Center. Raleigh. NC 27609 - AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IAFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER NC DEPARTMENT OF ROY COOPER - Governor HEALTH AND . a? HUMAN SERVICES MANDY COHEN, MD, MPH Secretary Attachment BETH LOVETTE, MPH, BSN, RN - Acting Director, Division of Public Health Table 1: Lake Sutton fish tissue data collected March 2019. Summary of mercury detections and average concentrations by species. Mercury - Ave rage Mercury Does ave rage exceed Species of samples of detections Range of Detections (mg/kg) Concentration (mg/kg) screeing level? Largemouth Bass 11 11 0.07 - 0.23 0.13 YES Bluegill Sunfish 3 1 0.11 0.04 N0 Redear Sunfish 8 5 0.02 - 0.05 0.02 N0 Notes: mg/kg milligrams of contaminant per kilogram of fish NC DPH North Carolina Division of Public Health Table 2: Lake Sutton fish tissue data collected March 2019. Estimated mercury exposure doses for subsistence and recreational fishers. All mercury present is assumed to be Mercury Health Guideline/ Average Mercury Type (non-cance r) Concentration Subsistence Fishers Estimated Species (mg/kg/day) (mg/kg) Dose (mng?idav) exceed (mg/kg/day) Recreational Fishers Does calculated dose Estimated Dose Does calculated dose Largemouth Bass 0.13 2.74E-04 YES 2.82E-05 exceed NO Bluegill Sunfish 1 10"4 EPA 0.04 9.21E-05 NO 9.48E-06 NO Redear Sunfish 0.02 4.78E-05 NO 4.92E-06 NO Notes: mg/kglday milligrams of contaminant per kilogram of body weight per day ring/kg milligrams of contaminant per kilogram of fish or shellfish tissue HG health guideline EPA US. Environmental Protection Agency3 reference dose NC DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH LOCATION: 5505 Six Forks Road, Raleigh. NC 27609 MAILING ADDRESS: 1912 Mail Service Center. Raleigh. NC 27609 - TEL: 919-707-7900 - FAX: 919-870-4808 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER NC DPH Screeing Level (mg/kg) 0.0471 EPARTMENT OF ROY COOPER - Governor EALTH AND MANDY COHEN MD MPH - Secreta UMAN SERVICES . . . . . BETH LOVETTE, MPH, BSN, RN Director. of Publlc Health References 1. Fish Consumption Advisories. NC Department of Health and Human Services. 2. 2018]. Standard Operating Procedure for Fish Consumption Advisories. DPH OEEB. June 29, 2018 3. 2001] Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Chemical Assessment Summary: U. 5. EPA. July 27 2001. nmbr=73 NC DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH LOCATION: 5505 Six Forks Road. Raleigh. NC 27609 MAILING ADDRESS: 1912 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27609 - TEL: 9197017900 FAX: 919-870-4808 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY (AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER