PFAS in Wild Game: Consumption Warning for Hobby Hunters
The traditional autumn hunting season is in full swing, but hobby hunters are being asked to refrain from consuming wild game meat, as it may contain harmful chemicals.
Hobby hunters from across the northeastern United States travel to Maine every autumn, where deer and wild turkeys are among the most popular game animals in recreational hunting.
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has issued a consumption advisory for wildlife in several communities in the central part of the state.
PFAS Detected in Muscle Tissue
In a statement, the department said that samples of wildlife in the area showed PFAS levels in their muscle tissue that justify this advisory. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are chemicals that persist in the environment and have been linked to human health problems such as cancer and low birth weight.
«The recommended areas include areas that have been contaminated with high PFAS levels through the application of municipal and/or industrial sludge containing PFAS. Deer and turkeys that feed in these contaminated areas have absorbed these chemicals and now show PFAS in their meat and organs,» the agency stated.
The advisories apply to parts of Unity, Unity Township, Albion, and Freedom, in addition to existing advisories in Fairfield and parts of Skowhegan, according to the agency. The agency justified the advisory based on the testing of 54 deer and 55 turkeys for PFAS. The advisory was issued shortly before the popular “Residents' Day” for deer hobby hunters on 2 November.
“Forever Chemicals” in the Food Chain
It is not known how long the recommendations will remain in effect. According to the ministry, New Hampshire, Michigan and Wisconsin have also issued consumption advisories for PFAS and wild game.
Maine was one of the first states to detect PFAS in deer. The presence of these “forever chemicals” in wildlife and fish has increasingly come under the scrutiny of health authorities in recent years. The pollution affects not only habitats but also the food chain.
PFAS substances have long been used in household products such as non-stick cookware and food packaging. The chemicals are also used in firefighting foams and are found in some fertilizers. Federal authorities have also taken steps to curb PFAS contamination, amid concerns that the substances are present in food, drinking water systems and private wells.
