ROANOKE RAPIDS — North Carolina and Virginia officials are urging Roanoke Valley residents to avoid consuming walleye and largemouth bass from Lake Gaston.

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Both states released advisories yesterday.

The North Carolina Division of Public Health took tissue samples from fish in the lake recently and tests revealed elevated mercury levels, “we thought it would be a prudent public health measure to issue a fish advisory,” according to Dr. Dwight Flammia, toxicologist for the Virginia Department of Health, which issued Virginia’s advisory. North Carolina’s advisory comes from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

“The fish around the state are tested routinely,” states Dr. Douglas Campbell, Head of the Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch of the North Carolina Division of Public Health. “A lot of the walleye we tested in Lake Gaston had mercury levels above what we call our ‘action levels,’ which is when we feel it’s necessary to take action to protect public health.”

High mercury levels in fish present greater risks to pregnant women and children under the age of 15 — the North Carolina advisory recommends people in these groups avoid eating walleye and largemouth bass from Lake Gaston completely. Others are urged to limit their consumption to no more than two meals per month of these fish.

While eating fish is generally a healthy practice, high mercury levels may cause adverse effects, as Dr. Flammia says. “Mercury, both in the form it’s found in fish and the environment are toxic to the nervous system,” he stated, “especially the developing nervous system.”

The VDH recommends taking the following precautions when eating fish that may be contaminated.

• Eat smaller, younger fish within the legal limits. Younger fish are likely to contain less mercury in their systems than older, larger fish.

• Eat fewer or smaller servings of fish.

• Eat different kinds of fish from various sources.

Cleaning or cooking fish will not reduce the levels of mercury in the fish, according to the VDH advisory. Still, the advisories do not preclude residents from enjoying fishing.

“Make sure people know all other activities aren’t restricted,” says Dr. Campbell. “You can fish; you can clean fish; you can handle fish. We’re advising about the actual consumption of fish.”