Fish consumption advisory updated

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Department of Public Health has added five lakes and rivers to its 2010 consumption advisories for sport fish.

The additions are the result of expanded sampling by the Illinois Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program.

Officials screen fish samples from about 40 bodies of water each year for contamination from 14 banned pesticides and chemicals.

Public Health Director Dr. Damon Arnold says the advisories are not meant to discourage eating fish. But they help cooks determine how to prepare them. Contaminants may be harmful especially to women in childbearing years and children.

New to the list this year are rivers and lakes in in Pulaski County, Marion County, Shelby County, Morgan County and Cook County.

On the Net:

idph.state.il.us/envhealth/fishadv09/fishadvisory09.htm.

Read the original article from WBBM News Radio.

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