What are PCBs?

• PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are chemicals that were used in making electrical parts
• They were linked to health issues in humans and environmental problems and banned in 1979
• Health issues related to PCBs are cancer, reproductive problems, and other issues
• PCBs remain in the environment for a long time because of the time it takes for them to degrade

How do PCBs get in my fish?

• PCBs can get into the air, water, and soil and contaminate bodies of water like lakes and rivers
• The chemicals are found in increasing amounts in bigger fish as they eat smaller fish
• PCBs build up in fat as you go up the food chain and are found in dangerously large quantities

How do I safely prepare contaminated fish?

The safest thing to do is to not eat contaminated fish, but following these steps can reduce risk:

• The head, skin and guts need to be removed and thrown away
• Cut away all of the fat areas
• Cook the fish on a grill or rack so any fat that was not cut away will drip down
• Throw away the fat drippings