Do not eat deer meat from this Maine area
Hunters planning on going to Fairfield area in search of deer should be aware that a “do not eat” advisory remains in effect because of toxic “forever chemical” contamination.
The Fairfield advisory area begins at the Carter Memorial Bridge in Waterville where Route 137 crosses the Kennebec, heads north up the Kennebec River past Waterville and Skowhegan, to the Eugene Cole Bridge in Norridgewock (Route 8 and 201A), then south from Norridgewock along Route 8 into Smithfield to the intersection of Routes 8 and 137, then south on Route 137 until it crosses the Kennebec River on the Carter Memorial Bridge.
According to the Bangor Daily News, the area remains under a do not eat advisory after high levels of PFAS were discovered in deer harvested there last year.
The state hopes to provide more guidance on PFAS before the start of firearms season at the end of the month.
PFAS have been used for decades in a variety of household and consumer products, including non-stick cookware, carpet, waterproof clothing, and food packaging products such as pizza boxes and microwave popcorn bags.
Known as “forever chemicals” since they are very slow to break down, PFAS persist in the environment and are found in soil, water, plants, and animals.
The state says over time, exposure to PFAS has been known to increase the risk of some types of cancer and elevate blood pressure during pregnancy. It can also cause liver and kidney problems and impair the immune system.
