Fish Testing for Perfluorinated Chemicals PFAS

The New York State Departments of Health (DOH) and Environmental Conservation (DEC) are working together to collect, analyze, and evaluate fish from water bodies around the Newburgh and Hoosick Falls areas for a group of chemicals called PFCs (this includes PFOA and PFOS).

Preliminary results indicate that fish from some waters in the Newburgh and Hoosick Falls areas have elevated levels of PFAS, compared to fish from other waters. Until testing is complete, DOH recommends that people who fish these waters return their catch:

  • Newburgh waters:
    • Beaverdam Lake
    • Stream from Stewart State Forest to Beaverdam Lake
    • Lockwood Basin/Masterson Park Pond
    • Moodna Creek
    • Recreation Pond
    • Silver Stream
    • Washington Lake
  • Hoosick Falls area waters:
    • Thayers Pond

DEC also collected fish from Brown’s Pond in the Newburgh area, as well as the Hoosic River, Little Hoosic River, and the stream that receives drainage from the Petersburgh landfill, in the Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh areas. Preliminary results indicate that PFAS concentrations in fish from these waterbodies are not elevated.

Currently, DEC is actively collecting additional fish samples from waterbodies in the Newburgh, Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh areas and will also have these fish analyzed for PFAS.

DOH has existing advice for other contaminants in fish:. For more information about eating the fish you catch, visit www.health.ny.gov/fish.

For more information about PFAS in Newburgh and Hoosick Falls, visit the PFOS Exposures in Newburgh Area and PFOA in Drinking Water in the Hoosick Falls.