Environmental Contaminants Contaminants 101

How Might Contamination of Fish and Wildlife Affect My Life?

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service focuses its efforts on the protection of fish and wildlife for the benefit of the public. So how might the protection of fish and wildlife help us in our everyday lives?

Children - Young, growing children and pregnant women are often the most sensitive to the adverse effects of chemicals in the environment. Recognizing and understanding the effects of pollution on wildlife may give us some hints as to potential effects to people.

Fishing - Fish accumulate minute concentrations of chemicals from their environment. Often these chemicals build up in fat and muscle, which we then eat. Usually these concentrations are not high enough to harm anyone who eats fish now and then, but the avid angler who eats fish regularly, young children, and pregnant women, could be at risk of long term adverse health effects.

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