News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz On Tuesday, Mathew Grider (left) and Marcus Amlotte (right) are seen fishing by the bridge at Island Park in Alpena. Grider and Amlotte were among many Alpena residents out enjoying the sunshine and warm weather.

ALPENA — Due to new findings regarding the impact of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) on human health, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has updated guidelines regarding the safe consumption of fish.

The MDHHS annual Eat Safe Fish Guides are intended to help Michigan residents choose which types of fish are safe to eat. According to a recent MDHHS press release, studies now show that PFOS is more harmful to humans than previously believed.

MDHHS states that per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of man-made chemicals that include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and are used in making firefighting foam, stain repellents, and non-stick cookware, for example. PFAS can build-up in human bodies and lead to health risks.

According to the Michigan PFAS Response Team (MPART), exposure to certain types of PFAS may impact women’s fertility, cause high blood pressure among pregnant women, increase cholesterol levels, impact immune response, and increase chances of developing cancer (especially kidney and testicular cancer).

In April, MDHHS released a report that states that PFOS toxicity is harmful at lower concentrations, and literature has continued to cite toxicity levels at lower rates since 2014.

Back in 2017, The Alpena News reported that five locations at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) had elevated PFOA levels in the groundwater and according to the Michigan PFAS response team, as of May 2024, the CRTC PFOA and PFOS contamination is still under remedial investigation.

To view current contamination sites of PFAS, individuals can visit the MDHHS interactive map at egle.maps.arcgis.com.

Because of new findings regarding PFOS toxicity levels, MDHHS has altered the recommended serving sizes for certain types of locally caught fish and added “Do Not Eat” recommendations on others.

Overall, guidelines are based on levels of chemicals found in the portions of fish that people eat, such as filets, according to the press release. MDHHS’ Bureau of Laboratories test locally caught fish and the results are used to set guidelines.

“There are many health benefits to eating fish and the Eat Safe Fish Guides provide consumption recommendations based on the levels of certain chemicals found in fish in water bodies across the state,” Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive, said in the press release. “Michigan families can use these guidelines to help make healthy choices about the fish they eat.”

According to the press release, MDHHS’ Eat Safe Fish Guides are not laws or regulations. The guides are meant to serve as a resource for those who want information about which fish and how much of those fish are healthy to eat from various bodies of water across the state.

The 2025 Eat Safe Fish Guide includes recommendations per type of fish, per county, and per body of water.

For Les Cheneaux Island Area and Thunder Bay, the 2025 Eat Safe Fish Guide notes the best choices for consumption include bluegill, rock bass, and sunfish. For Alpena County, suckers from Four Mile Pond, Lake Besser, Lake Winyah, and Long Lake are considered by the MDHHS as the best choices for consumption. In Montmorency County, MDHHS recommends brown trout from McCormick Lake and suckers from Thunder Bay River as best choices for consumption.