DPHHS, DEQ, FWP Release PFAS Fish Consumption Advisories and Study Results

Data indicates fish caught in some Montana waterbodies may contain detectable levels of the man-made pollutants known as PFAS  

HELENA— The Interagency Fish Consumption Advisory Group (IFCAG), consisting of representatives from the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services (DPHHS), Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP), has issued an updated consumption advisory for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in fish. The new PFAS fish consumption advisory is listed in the Montana Sport Fish Consumption Guidelines found on the FWP website.  

This advisory is based on the agencies’ published results of 2023 and 2024 fish tissue and surface water sampling efforts for PFAS in select waterbodies across the state. The goal of the PFAS sampling effort was to screen edible-sized fish for PFAS contamination in waterbodies across Montana. 

Fish consumption advisories are not regulatory standards; they are recommendations to help Montanans ensure the fish they catch are safe to eat. To determine the fish consumption limits that are considered protective of human health, IFCAG reviewed health guidance values from EPA, the CDC Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and those used by other states. The members of IFCAG reached consensus in late 2025 to use the health guidance value from ATSDR, known as the Minimum Risk Level. Using these guidelines to calculate fish consumption limits resulted in 21 new or updated fish consumption advisories for Montana waterbodies.  

PFAS are man-made chemicals that have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries and consumer products since the 1940s because of their useful properties. These chemicals break down very slowly and can accumulate over time. PFAS are widespread in the environment and found in the blood of people and animals all over the world. According to agency officials, PFAS are considered emerging contaminants of concern because exposure to PFAS may be harmful to human health, and scientific understanding of PFAS continues to grow.  Epidemiology studies suggest associations between increases in exposure to PFAS and certain health effects such as increased cholesterol levels, decreased birth weight, pregnancy issues, lower vaccine response, and some cancers (among other effects).  

While it is important to be aware that eating fish caught in Montana may expose individuals to low levels of PFAS in some waterbodies, eating a moderate amount of a variety of fish can provide significant health benefits for many people. 

The fish tissue and surface water studies were completed to meet the objectives of the Montana PFAS Action Plan. Following recent scientific advances that show PFAS contamination may be more widespread than previously understood, DEQ and FWP partnered on a targeted study that began in 2023. The agencies proactively sampled select waterbodies to understand if PFAS are present in Montana waters and fish.  

The sampling results of the study are unlikely to be representative of all Montana waters. Sample locations were selected based on proximity to confirmed or potential sources of PFAS and distributed across important regional fisheries. At least one PFAS chemical was detected in fish tissue at 12 of the 14 locations sampled and in surface water at 2 of the 14 locations.  

The State of Montana has made it a priority to provide the public with reliable information about the risk of PFAS exposure so the public can make informed decisions about the fish they eat and the products they use.  The state of Montana recognizes PFAS as emerging contaminants of concern and proactively adopted the Montana PFAS Action Plan in June of 2020.  

Visit FWP’s website for updated fish consumption advisories. Find the full PFAS Fish Tissue and Surface Water Monitoring Report on DEQs website.