CENTRE — A toxicologist for the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) said a recent consumption advisory indicating PCB contamination of fish in Weiss Lake does not necessarily point to suddenly increased levels of the chemical.

“The numbers have been holding pretty steady” since resumption of testing by ADPH and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) in 2010, according to ADPH Environmental Toxicologist Dr. John Guarisco.

Still, Guarisco added, “There were sufficient levels of PCBs in all the species of fish we tested to warrant an advisory.”

Last month, a fish consumption advisory listed multiple species that tested positive for PCB contamination. The 2011 report only listed two species. Prior to that, there had been no fish sampling in Weiss Lake since 2003 because of state budget cuts. In 2003, the watch list included no species from Weiss Lake.

The 2012 fish consumption advisory initially suggested limiting consumption of all species to one meal per month. After discussions with local officials, ADPH changed the recommendation regarding black crappie to one meal per week.

“I called officials in Georgia and we compared our numbers (regarding PCB contamination) and came to an amenable advisory that we feel is pretty equal for people in both states,” Guarisco said. “My numbers were very close to theirs.”

Guarisco stressed that the Health Department's consumption advisory is not a binding resolution.

“I hate to do it, but I have a responsibility to make those recommendations to protect public health,” Guarisco said. “But it is only a recommendation. People do not have to follow it.”

The 2012 testing sample included two species of catfish, in addition to largemouth and striped bass, and black crappie. Guarisco said anglers should use common sense to determine the consumption status of fish not listed on the advisory (online at www.adph.org).

“As our news release states, ‘If a particular species is not listed on the advisory, it is prudent to assume similar species with similar feeding habits should be consumed with caution’,” he said.

As an example, Guarisco pointed to white crappie and bream. Neither species is specifically listed in the advisory, but both are considered “pan fish” with feeding habits dimilar to black crappie, which made the list.

ADEM Spokesman Scott Hughes, whose organization collects the fish samples before forwarding the information to ADPH for final analysis, said he was aware of an ongoing PCB cleanup effort on Horseleg Creek near Rome, Ga. He said any fears that the project has led to increased PCB levels downstream on the Coosa River are not supported by facts.

“We are aware of the work and we are in communication with our counterparts in Georgia,” Hughes told The Post. “I do not know of any data that would support the statement” that the work has increased PCB levels in Weiss Lake.

Hughes said he believes the addition of new species to the Health Department's 2012 advisory has mainly to do with the way the latest tests are being conducted.

“The concentration levels in 2011 and 2010 were very similar,” Hughes said. “I think the way the data is being looked at is the difference. The standards are becoming more stringent.”