Columbia River Health Advisories
Recommendations for preparing
and cooking fish
EPA recommends following the general advice of health agencies for preparing and cooking fish:
- Remove fat and skin before cooking
- While cooking, allow fat and oil to drain
These preparation and cooking methods should help reduce exposures to PCBs, DDTs, dioxins, furans, and other organics which accumulate in the fatty tissues of fish.
Is it safe to eat fish from the Columbia River?
State health agencies are responsible for determining how much fish is safe to eat from a particular river, lake, or stream based on:
- How much the average person is expected to eat;
- The amount of toxics in the fish.
For example, your state may issue a fish consumption advisory to protect the general public or for sensitive populations, such as children and pregnant women.
Fish Consumption Advisories
The links below provide information about fish consumption advisories for lakes and rivers in each state:
- Idaho Fish Consumption Advisory Program Exit
- Oregon Fish and Shellfish Consumption Exit
- Washington Fish Consumption Advisories Exit
Related information
- Columbia River Fish Contaminant Survey
- Upper Columbia River Fish Tissue Sampling Data Evaluation Report (part of EPA's Upper Columbia River Site Study)
Is it safe to swim in the Columbia River?
Check with your state or local health agency to find out if there are any swimming or recreational advisories for rivers and lakes in your area.
Related information
- Upper Columbia River (including Lake Roosevelt) Risk Assessment for Recreational Use of Beaches (part of EPA's Upper Columbia River Site Study)
- EPA's beaches website