Health Consultation: Former Florida Tile Site Lake Wire Fish. Lakeland, Polk County, Florida. EPA Facility ID: FLD004091583

摘要

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) requested the Florida Department of Health (DOH) assess the public health threat from eating fish from Lake Wire near the former Florida Tile hazardous waste site in Polk County. This health consultation evaluates test results for fish collected by FFWCC on October 11, 2007. Florida Tile used metals in the manufacture of ceramic tiles. From 1954 to 1974 the facility discharged their process waste water into Lake Wire. The FFWCC collected fish from Lake Wire because the City of Lakeland is building a fishing pier there. The FFWCC collected 12 redear sunfish, 16 largemouth bass, 12 bluegill, four blue tilapia, and one brown bullhead and analyzed fish tissue for cadmium, lead, mercury and zinc. Florida DOH found the levels of cadmium, lead and zinc in Lake Wire fish are not likely to cause illness. Although the levels of mercury in Lake Wire fish are lower than most lakes, Florida DOH recommends consumption of no more than two six-ounce meals (cooked weight) per week of largemouth bass, redear sunfish, bluegill or blue tilapia. The purpose of this health consultation is to determine if levels of metals in Lake Wire fish are a health hazard for fish eaters. The City of Lakeland notified the FFWCC of their plans to build a fishing pier in Lake Wire in 2008. Due to the history of hazardous waste disposal by Florida Tile, FFWCC collected and analyzed fish from the lake. FFWCC asked the Florida DOH to determine the public health threat from consumption of Lake Wire fish.