Utah - Office Of Epidemiology


Common Goldeneye	Cinnamon Teal	Northern Shoveler

Introduction:
In 2005, duck consumption advisories were issued for Common Goldeneye and Northern Shoveler ducks from the Great Salt Lake due to mercury contamination. Based on high mercury levels in Common Goldeneye and Northern Shoveler ducks, a consumption advisory was issued by the Utah Department of Health and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) stating that Common Goldeneye and Northern Shoveler from the Great Salt Lake should not be consumed. The source of this mercury contamination is currently unknown. In conjunction with research carried out by the UDWR Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Project and Utah State University's College of Natural Resources, UDWR is analyzing contaminant concentrations in migratory ducks from the Great Salt Lake. Ten species of ducks were collected from Great Salt Lake marshlands between October 2005 and February 2006. UDWR requested that the Environmental Epidemiology Program (EEP) review the duck sampling data from ducks collected in 2005-2006.

Consumption Advisory:
Common Goldeneye- Adults should eat no more than one 8-ounce meal per month, and children, pregnant women and women who may become pregnant should not eat Common Goldeneye from Great Salt Lake marshes. Cinnamon Teal and Northern Shoveler- Adults should eat no more than two 8-ounce meals per month, and children, pregnant women and women who may become pregnant should eat no more than one 4-ounce meal per month of Northern Shoveler and Cinnamon Teal from Great Salt Lake marshes. The EEP completed a health consultation recommending that a consumption advisory for waterfowl harvested from the Great Salt Lake marshes be issued because of the elevated levels of mercury detected. An Evaluation of Mercury Concentrations in Ducks from The Great Salt Lake, 2005 and 2006 An Evaluation of Mercury Concentrations in Waterfowl from the Great Salt Lake, 2004 and 2005

Links:
EPA- Health Effects of Mercury Mercury levels in Commercial Fish and Shellfish Press Release September 20, 2006: Duck Advisories Revised Press Release September 29, 2005: High Mercury Levels Found in Two Duck Species Utah Department of Environmental Quality Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Utah Mercury Workgroup

Contact:
Utah Department of Health Environmental Epidemiology Program 801-538-6191

Updated 09/19/2006 MD

Utah Waterfowl Advisory