COLUMBUS, Ohio — Catfish collected from the Scioto River and Paint Creek in southern Ohio show levels of PFAS — so-called “forever chemicals” — that exceed federal and state safety guidelines, according to recently released data from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
The information comes from the Ohio EPA’s Large River Catfish Tissue Results PFAS (EnviroScience) report, published in May 2025 as part of the agency’s H2Ohio Rivers program. Samples were collected between 2023 and 2024 from 149 large-river sites statewide.
In the Scioto River, PFAS concentrations in catfish tissue ranged from 17.04 to 24.06 micrograms per kilogram (µg/kg). The highest concentrations were found near Waverly and Delaware County. At Paint Creek, located downstream of the Paint Creek Dam in Highland County, catfish samples contained 19.02 µg/kg of total PFAS.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s current fish tissue screening level for PFOS, one of the most toxic PFAS compounds, is 9.1 µg/kg. According to the Ohio Department of Health’s 2024 consumption guidance, any level above approximately 10 µg/kg warrants a “one meal per month” recommendation to limit exposure.
The Ohio EPA’s dataset identifies PFOS as the dominant compound detected in both rivers, followed by smaller amounts of PFOA and PFNA. These compounds are associated with long-term environmental persistence and health effects including immune suppression and developmental issues.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been used for decades in firefighting foams, waterproof coatings, and nonstick products. They are highly resistant to natural breakdown and can accumulate in fish and wildlife over time.
While the agency’s 2023–2024 data do not indicate immediate public health emergencies, the concentrations are above both state and federal screening benchmarks, suggesting that regular consumers of locally caught catfish could face increased risk over time.
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I wonder the approx age of fish tested?