Schumer Calls for Immediate Federal Investigation Into Lack of Notifications and Warnings of the Dangers of Eating Fish Caught Directly in the Waters Around NYC and Across the Country

Press Release

SCHUMER CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO LACK OF NOTIFICATIONS AND WARNINGS OF THE DANGERS OF EATING FISH CAUGHT DIRECTLY IN THE WATERS AROUND NYC AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY

With More Low-Incoming New Yorkers Fishing In Waters Across The Region In Order To Feed Their Families, Schumer Asks Feds To Enhance National Standards To Protect The Public

Due to Mercury, PCB's and Other Contaminants, Eating Too Much Fish Directly From the Sea or Freshwaters Can Be Toxic To Families, Especially Pregnant Women And Children

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that he is calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to increase its efforts to warn the public of the dangers of regularly eating fish caught in the waters around New York City and to review their standards for what's a safe amount of fish for human consumption. As the economic climate has worsened, more and more families have flocked to both the East River, the Hudson River, and other local waterways to fish for meals, raising concerns about the adequacy of EPA's safety advisories.

Fish located in New York City's waters have been found to contain cancer-causing chemicals, such as mercury and PCBs. Despite the serious dangers facing New Yorkers who consume large amounts of fish caught in local waterways, there has been no federal outreach to inform the public of the serious dangers of eating this fish, and new reports find that most anglers and their families are unaware of the dangers. Schumer is urging the EPA to investigate and review the measures taken to warn anglers and their families of the dangers of regularly eating fish directly caught in New York City's local waters and to update and enhance national guidelines to properly warn the public.

"New Yorkers must be warned about the dangers of consuming fish caught in New York City's rivers," Schumer said. "As the economic crisis has worsened, many have understandably flocked to local waters to fish for their meals. But with these fish carrying dangerous cancer-causing chemicals that can cause serious harm to anyone who eats them, especially children and pregnant women, the USFW is responsible for informing the public about the dangers of consuming these fish. I am going to continue to fight to ensure that all New Yorkers know about these dangers so that families make safe, informed decisions."

As the economic crisis has worsened, struggling New Yorkers have more and more begun fishing for their meals in local waters, which often contain fish contaminated with toxic chemicals. Many of the fish have been found to contain PCBs and mercury, both of which can cause cancer as well as other harmful side effects. A report by the New York Daily News found that low-income New Yorkers, unaware of the dangers, have been eating the toxic fish up to five times a week, a level that is extremely dangerous, especially to children, the elderly, and women of child-bearing age

While eating large amounts of fish from the waters around New York City can pose real dangers to human health, many fisherman and their families are unaware of the dangers due to poor information about know toxic hazards at common fishing hot spots.

To protect New York City families now in danger, Schumer today announced the following actions:

· Schumer today sent a personal letter to EPA Administrator List Jackson asking U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to conduct an immediate investigation and review of the notifications and warnings made available to anglers who fish in the waters around New York City, as well as across the country.

· In his letter, Schumer also asked the agency to review their standards for what's a safe amount of fish to eat and give more robust advisories to states so that they can better tailor their public programs to local conditions. The last advisory was issued in 2004.

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