NEWBURGH, NY — The New York State Departments of Health and Environmental Conservation Monday announced with Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-Cold Spring, the preliminary results of an ongoing study to assess potential perfluorinated compound (PFCs) contamination in fish in the Newburgh area. The study found elevated levels of PFCs, mainly perfluorooctane sulfonate acid (PFOS), in certain fish species, and DOH has issued a "catch and release" advisory for select water bodies to ensure that residents do not consume PFC-contaminated fish.

This advisory applies to recreational fishing only, as no commercial fishing is conducted in any of the impacted waterbodies, and is in addition to warning signs previously posted by the City of Newburgh around Washington Lake, officials said.



As part of the state's ongoing investigation into the extent of PFOS contamination in the Newburgh area, DEC and DOH staff sampled fish from eight popular lakes, ponds and streams used for recreational fishing. Sampling at each site included one or more sportfish species as well as a minnow species to evaluate impacts to the ecological food chain. Specifically, DEC analyzed edible portions of the fish for PFCs, including PFOS and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).