Is Fishing in the Ohio River Safe?
Video from segment of "Duane, is that right? (WKRC)
Pollution in the Ohio River has led to people being afraid of consuming fish caught in the murky waters. These fears aren't completely unfounded, as discussed in Local 12's news segment "Duane, is it right?". While by and large fish are safe to eat from the Ohio River, the Ohio EPA lists stipulations that must be taken into consideration when eating fish caught in the Ohio. These rules include recommendations on how often certain fish can be eaten to reduce health risks, with some fish only being safe to eat once a month.
Table provided by the Ohio EPA
Simply the fact that the river is polluted to the point that the wildlife that live in it are saturated with pollution is heartbreaking enough, but not being able to safely eat the fish from the river should be enough of an eye opener to show most people that the issue of pollution is serious. Needless to say, swimming in the Ohio River is also ill-advised given the amount of pollutants in the water. The Ohio River is one of Ohio's most significant natural resources, but this resource is unable to be fully utilized simply because of how polluted the river has become.
The dystopian state that the river is in has effectively snuffed out a majority of recreational uses for the river. with swimming, fishing, and jet skiing all being discouraged, people are missing out on taking advantage of the river's fullest potential. What should be one of Cincinnati's most beautiful natural attractions is instead a murky reminder of an industrial past with no environmental regulations.