State health officials are warning some people not to eat some fish in two western North Carolina lakes because they have elevated levels of mercury.
Officials said Friday people shouldn't eat some fish caught in Lake Chatuge in Clay County and Lake Nantahala in Macon County. In Lake Nantahala, the warning involves small mouth bass, walleye, yellow perch and large mouth bass. In Lake Chatuge, it covers white bass or large mouth bass.
Previous studies have found elevated levels of mercury in large mouth bass in all North Carolina waters. Testing has confirmed elevated levels in the other fish.
The warning to avoid eating the fish covers all pregnant or nursing women and woman 15 to 44 years old because they're considered to be of childbearing age. It also covers children under age 15.
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