Can PFAS in Florida fish contaminate your dinner plate?

What's actually in it

Fish caught in Florida's estuaries absorb PFAS from contaminated water. Industrial runoff, fire-fighting foam, and wastewater discharge introduce PFAS into coastal waters. The chemicals build up in fish tissue, especially in the liver and muscle. When you eat these fish, you absorb their stored PFAS.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Environ Res measured PFAS levels in fish from Florida estuaries and estimated health risks for people who eat them. The researchers found PFAS in all fish species tested. Some species had levels high enough that eating just one or two servings per week could exceed recommended daily PFAS intake limits.

PFOS was the most common PFAS found. Fish closer to industrial and military sites had the highest contamination. Recreational anglers who regularly eat their catch face the highest exposure.

Check local fish consumption advisories before eating fish you or others have caught. Trim skin and fat from fish before cooking, since some PFAS concentrate there. Vary your fish sources and species.