Study looks at how many ‘forever chemicals’ are found in fish and sediment in Tampa Bay

Scientists are researching toxins, including what are known as "forever chemicals," in the bay and they could create warnings based on what they find.

How much fish from Tampa Bay should you eat? A study that includes a look at what are called "forever chemicals" in the bay might provide answers.

The toxins go by the acronym PFAS, and are found in industrial chemicals used to fight fires and coat nonstick cookware.

They may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals.

Steve Murawski is with the University of South Florida's College of Marine Science. He gave an update on the study to the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.

“It's more of a surveillance project. What is the level of contamination?,” he said. “And when we do the seafood safety risk assessments, that'll tell us whether we should be eating eight meals a week or three meals a week or 50 meals a week.”

PFAS have been used in consumer products since around the 1950s.

And they're being found in fish caught in Tampa Bay and around outfalls from wastewater treatment plants.

“The recreational species are spot and sea trout, sheepshead, red drum or redfish and snook,” he told planning council members. “And so what we wanted to do is focus the larger study on those species because those are the species people are going to interact with most in terms of the consumption of the fishes.”

The study looks at how chemicals — including PFAS — are concentrated in sediments in the estuary and how that harms humans and wildlife. It's expected to end in 2028.