Fort Des Moines Park Pond IA 04-LDM-1099

Assessment Comments

Assessment is based on results of DNR fish tissue monitoring in 1995.

Basis for Assessment

SUMMARY:  The Class B(LW) aquatic life uses remain "not assessed.   The fish consumption uses remain "fully supported."  EXPLANATION:  The Class B(LW) uses remain "not assessed" due to lack of information on the status of aquatic communities of this lake.   Continue to assess support of the fish consumption uses as "fully supported" based on results of fish tissue monitoring conducted in June 1995 by the DNR Fisheries Bureau.   This monitoring was conducted in response to concerns that fish from this lake contained high levels of contaminants that would pose a health risk to human consumers.   Results showed that levels of all of the 26 contaminants analyzed for in the sample of largemouth bass were well below FDA action levels and DNR levels of concern.   The only contaminants detected were DDE (0.073 ppm) and methoxychlor (0.22 ppm).   The level of neither contaminant is believed to present a health risk to human consumers of fish from this lake.   The level of DDE (0.073 ppm) is well below both the FDA action level of 5.0 ppm and the DNR level of concern of 2.5 ppm.   The level of methoxychlor (0.22 ppm), although relatively high for this seldom-detected contaminant of Iowa fish, does not present a human health risk.   Methoxychlor does not have an FDA action level, is considered by EPA as "not classifiable" to human carcinogenicity (Class D), and is not identified as a contaminant of concern in U.S.  EPA's "Guidance for Assessing Chemical Contaminant Data for Use in Fish Advisories, Volume II:  Risk Assessment and Consumption Limits" (U.S.  EPA 1994).   Thus, the fish consumption uses remain "fully supported."