re: Safe to eat catfish caught in the Mississippi River at BR south of Exxon?

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Yeah, I didn't believe it at first, either.

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If they are treating it for cooling water or to add to the process they are likely putting chemicals into it that DEQ/EPA don't want in the water. Organics and such get high scrutiny. Taking water out and returning it (such as once through cooling water) will never result in it being too polluted and needing treatment. Every site is different, so maybe there is some crazy situation.

If the river water is being used at the point it needs to be treated coming across the levee then it gets expensive and will probably have to be treated leaving to make sure it meets regulations. Yes, they want the water cleaner going back in the river than it came out, doesn't mean the river is polluted.

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KNOW THE DANGER!

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Fortunately I do, more concerned about Amite River than I am the Mississippi. Only eat catfish above Gray's Creek.

There is nothing wrong with eating the catfish out of the Missisisippi River. It The very large ones may have some bio accumulation but I doubt you would be cleaning and eating >50 lb catfish. There was a study done when I was at LSU where they caught catfish from the river and tested for pollutants and were not able to find anything. The tremendous volume and flow of the river, the large quantities of humic acid (organic matter that acts as a floculant) were two of the reasons that were thought to have low levels of pollutant. You really are more likely to eat bad fish when taken from a pond with stagnant flow because toxins accumulate and concentrate over time.

Also the story about the river being too polluted....I think you misunderstood because there is no way that is right. Most companies will only take what they need from the river because it is expensive to treat the water and return back to the river. There are strict requirements as far as chemicals and even temperature of the outflow back to the river, so it is inefficient to take more than what you need.

I think what the guy is saying may be true.

I have no doubt the background contamination (heavy metals, solids, fecal coliform, etc.) in the MS river exceeds the allowable discharge limits set by EPA/DEQ in some area.

The limits for discharge to any storm sewer or tributary are pretty strict. They measure this stuff in PPM (parts per million).

Hell no not unless you want cancer

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Depending on your clean water permit, water pulled out of the ground might have to be treated before it can be put into the river.

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Yep.

Plants pull water from the river to use in their process. Then it's sent through filters and water treatment units where it's returned to the river, cleaner than when it arrived.

The water is fine and so are the fish. Eat up!

Catfish, Tilapia. Garbaggio. Do not eat.