Freshwater fish may impact your health, new study reports.

Jan 20, 2023, 8:00 AM | Updated: Jan 23, 2023, 2:45 pm

Brook trout (Tom Smart)

(Tom Smart)

KSLNewsRadio

SALT LAKE CITY — A new study has found that freshwater fish can be more dangerous to your health than you think.

The Utah Division of Wildlife reports that Utah’s statewide fishing participation is around 20%, approximately 600,000 people.

But the problem is, consuming freshwater fish can actually be detrimental to your health.

According to a study published in the Journal Environmental Research, freshwater fish in the continental United States contain high levels of PFAs.

PFAs, or polyfluoroalkyl substances, are made of carbon and fluorine bonds. Meaning that they are one of the strongest and hardest to degrade naturally. The manufactured chemicals are used in firefighting foam, water resistant coatings and paint.

They are found in stain and water resistant coatings.

Ingesting a large amount of the chemicals can lead to an increased risk of cancer and decreased fertility.

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