Are Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) From Flathead Lake, Montana, USA “Safe” To Eat? An Integrated Mercury Risk Evaluation Study∗

This study focused on evaluating the appropriateness of the State of Montana consumption guidelines for Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) from Flathead Lake, Montana, USA. This lake is jointly managed by the State and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Thousands of lake trout are harvested by the Tribes and donated to local food banks yearly. Samples from forty-eight lake trout were analyzed for mercury, selenium and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Models that seek to quantify the moderating or attenuating effects of both selenium and omega-3 (n-3) PUFAs on mercury toxicity were integrated with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) methods for setting consumption guidelines in an attempt to better determine “safe” consumption recommendations. Omega-3 PUFAs benefits (neurodevelopmental and cardiovascular) were balanced with mercury detriment to yield a potential net health risk/benefit. Consumption of lake trout, of any size, failed to show any predicted neurodevelopmental benefits. H...