Colorado Fish Tissue Study

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Water Quality Control Division (WQCD) conducts an on-going study aimed at investigating the presence of certain contaminants (such as mercury, arsenic and selenium) in fish that can potentially be consumed by the population. The results of this study are the basis for issuing fish consumption advisories (FCA) in the State of Colorado. FCAs are issued to protect public health and to address human health risk questions associated with consuming fish potentially contaminated with certain chemicals of concern. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Water Quality Control Division (WQCD) works closely with Colorado Department of Natural Resources (CDNR) Division of Wildlife (DOW), and CDPHE Disease Control and Environmental Epidemiology Division (DCEED) in the collection of data, the analysis of the data and the determination of human health risks from consumption of locally caught fish. The fish tissue testing is part of an ongoing sampling plan of approximately 120 water bodies in the state. Fish tissue samples are tested for mercury, selenium and arsenic. More than 112 water bodies now have had laboratory testing completed as part of the study. Twenty-four waterbodies (approximately one in five) have required fish consumption advisories for mercury. Also listed are two other water bodies that are not part of the mercury study, but were posted for other parameters: Sweitzer for selenium, and Willow Springs Ponds for perchloroethylene.