In the wake of a train derailment that occurred on June 24, state agencies in Montana have issued an initial consumption advisory on all mountain whitefish caught in the Yellowstone River from Twin Bridges Road railroad bridge to Laurel.

The advisory was issued by the Fish Consumption Advisory Board, which consists of representatives from the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services (DPHHS), Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP). The board cited high levels of a chemical called phenanthrene in mountain whitefish caught below the derailment site as the reason for the advisory.

Phenanthrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), a group of chemicals that are known to be harmful to human health. PAHs can cause a variety of health problems, including birth defects, reproductive problems, and damage to the skin, body fluids, and immune system. In some cases, exposure to PAHs has been linked to cancer.

The source of the phenanthrene in the mountain whitefish is not yet known. It is possible that the chemical came from the train derailment, but it is also possible that it came from natural sources or from other sources of pollution in the area. FWP is conducting additional testing to try to determine the source of the contamination.

In the meantime, the Fish Consumption Advisory Board is advising people to avoid eating all mountain whitefish caught in the Yellowstone River from Twin Bridges Road railroad bridge to Laurel. The board will update the advisory as more information becomes available.

The train derailment that occurred on June 24 released an oil-based asphalt substance into the Yellowstone River. The derailment caused significant damage to the river and its ecosystem. The cleanup effort is ongoing, and it is not yet known what the long-term impacts of the derailment will be.

The Fish Consumption Advisory Board’s decision to issue a consumption advisory on mountain whitefish is a significant step. It is the first time that a consumption advisory has been issued for the Yellowstone River since 2009. The advisory is a reminder of the importance of protecting our waterways and the wildlife that depend on them.

©️ Rocky Mountain Dispatch 2023