Virginia Issues Fish Advisory for Chickahominy River
Summary
The Virginia Department of Health issued a fish consumption advisory for the Chickahominy River effective April 14, 2026, after elevated perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) levels were detected in black crappie through tissue sampling conducted from 2023 to 2024. VDH advises eating no more than two fish meals per month of black crappie from the affected river area, and recommends that children and pregnant or nursing women avoid consuming fish from the advisory area.
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GovPing monitors VA Dept of Health Newsroom for new healthcare & life sciences regulatory changes. Every update since tracking began is archived, classified, and available as free RSS or email alerts — 35 changes logged to date.
What changed
The Virginia Department of Health has issued a consumption advisory for black crappie from the Chickahominy River after PFOS levels exceeded thresholds considered safe for long-term human consumption. The advisory recommends limiting consumption to two meals per month and advises children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers to avoid eating fish from the affected area. The advisory does not prohibit fishing or recreational water activities such as swimming and boating.
Affected parties should follow the consumption guidelines and consider precautionary measures such as eating smaller, younger fish and varying fish species and sources. This advisory applies to black crappie caught from Chickahominy Lake upstream to the state Route 360 bridge at the Henrico and Hanover County line near Mechanicsville.
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Apr 15, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
April 14, 2026
Media Contact: Brookie Crawford, brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov
Virginia Health Officials Issue Fish Consumption Advisory for Chickahominy River
Contaminants Identified in Black Crappie
RICHMOND, Va. – Effective immediately, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is issuing a fish consumption advisory for the Chickahominy River due to elevated perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) levels in black crappie.
Fish tissue sample results collected from 2023 through 2024 show PFOS levels in black crappie exceed the amount considered safe for long-term human consumption.
VDH advises eating no more than two fish meals per month of black crappie from the Chickahominy River including Chickahominy Lake, from the confluence of the Chickahominy River with the James River, upstream to the state Rt 360 bridge at the Henrico and Hanover County Line near Mechanicsville.
| Black Crappie
| ≤ 2 Meals/Month
A meal is defined as eight ounces of fish. |
The health effects of PFOS exposure can include increased cholesterol or changes in liver enzymes. It can also lower antibody response to some vaccines. It can cause pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, and a decrease in birth weight.
Fish consumption advisories alert people to contaminants present in affected fish species. They do not prohibit people from eating fish. Children and women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant have an increased health risk. Nursing mothers and young children should not eat fish from this advisory area.
Currently, this advisory area poses no health risk for recreational activities. Swimming, water skiing, and boating can continue in the advisory area.
Cleaning or cooking fish does not remove or reduce PFOS. To reduce potential harmful effects, VDH recommends the following precautions:
- Eat smaller, younger fish (within the legal limits). Younger fish are less likely to contain harmful levels of contaminants.
- Eat fewer or smaller servings of fish.
- Try to eat different species of fish from a variety of sources (i.e., different creeks, rivers and streams). For more information, visit the VDH Fish Consumption Advisory page.
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