Colorado health officials have issued a public health advisory after finding high levels of PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” in fish from 13 popular lakes across the state.
These chemicals can stay in the environment and the human body for a very long time and are linked to several health issues.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), along with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, tested fish from 44 lakes and found concerning levels of PFAS in 13 of them. As a result, officials are now asking people to limit how much fish they eat from these lakes.
PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These are man-made chemicals used in everyday items like non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, food packaging, and even firefighting foam. They don’t break down easily and can build up in fish, animals, and people over time.
The health department said that eating fish with PFAS doesn’t cause immediate sickness, but long-term exposure may lead to serious health problems.
These include liver damage, high cholesterol, thyroid disease, low birth weight in babies, and even certain types of cancer.
The lakes where fish were found to have high PFAS levels are located across Colorado. These include lakes in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, El Paso, Jefferson, La Plata, Larimer, and Rio Grande counties. Specific lakes mentioned in the advisory are Cherry Creek Reservoir, Quincy Reservoir, Aurora Reservoir, Barr Lake, and others.
Officials are not banning fishing in these lakes, and they are not asking people to stop eating fish entirely. Instead, they have provided recommended limits on how much fish people should eat from each lake, especially for sensitive groups like children, pregnant women, and those who eat a lot of locally caught fish.
For example, the advisory might say to eat no more than one fish per month from a certain lake if PFAS levels are high. In some cases, they advise not to eat fish at all from certain lakes due to extremely high contamination levels.
The CDPHE says this is the first time such a widespread advisory has been issued based on PFAS in Colorado.
They began testing for PFAS in water and fish after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made PFAS a national concern. Colorado is one of many states now looking closely at how PFAS is affecting water and wildlife.
Health experts are especially worried about those who rely on fish from local lakes as a regular part of their diet. The longer someone consumes PFAS-contaminated fish, the more it builds up in their body. This is why the advisory gives specific guidelines for safe consumption.
The state is also planning to continue monitoring PFAS levels and may update its recommendations as more data becomes available. Officials say their main goal is to protect public health while still allowing people to enjoy outdoor activities like fishing.
PFAS contamination has been a growing problem across the United States. These chemicals have been used for decades in many products, but only in recent years have their dangers become widely known. Some of the highest contamination cases have been linked to areas near military bases or airports where firefighting foam was heavily used.
In Colorado, past PFAS contamination has been found in drinking water near Colorado Springs and other areas. The new lake testing is part of a broader effort to understand how far PFAS has spread in the environment and what steps can be taken to reduce exposure.
If you enjoy fishing in Colorado lakes or eat fish caught from local waters, it’s important to check the state’s official advisory for up-to-date recommendations. The state has made the full list of lakes and fish consumption guidelines available on their website.
You can view the PFAS fish consumption advisory and get more information from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Officials are encouraging everyone to stay informed and follow the new guidelines to reduce long-term health risks. They also say there’s no need to panic, but being aware of the contamination and adjusting fish consumption habits is a smart move for families who care about their health.