A story published in the Oregonian in October about fish toxicity in the Columbia River and Columbia Slough helps raise awareness of the ongoing problem of contamination in fish. You should know that the pollutants detected in the fish tested were well below safety levels established by the FDA for fish purchased in retail food stores.

What can you do to reduce your risk from eating fish? PCBs, mercury and other pollutants concentrate in the fatty parts of fish. The Oregon Health Authority has long advised anglers to avoid eating the guts, fat and skin of ALL fish.

The City of Portland has conducted an active fish advisory program to immigrant and non-English speaking anglers for more than 15 years, and the city and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality also work together to identify and control pollutant sources and to clean up contamination.