Penn State Extension will host an April 30 webinar on Invasive Catfish and PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' - Forever Problems?  starting at Noon.

Flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) is an aquatic invasive species in Eastern Pennsylvania that poses a major threat to a number of different rivers and aquatic ecosystems.

It is also a popular sportfish and commonly eaten, but due to the habits of this species it tends to accumulate toxins at a higher level than smaller species of fish.

These toxins include per-/poly- fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are “forever” chemicals that do not break down in nature, can bioaccumulate, and can be dangerous to humans.

In this webinar, Olivia Hodgson will explore the relationship between flathead catfish and PFAS/PFOS, and how this can possibly impact human health.

Who is this for?

-- Federal, state, and local governments

-- Natural resource managers

-- People who fish for and eat flathead catfish

-- Fisheries managers

-- Public health policy makers

-- Environmental scientists

What will you learn?

-- What PFAS are and how they accumulate in rivers

-- How and why flathead catfish are invasive

-- The relationship between flathead catfish and PFAS

-- The possible impact these have on human health

Click Here to register and for more information.

Visit the Penn State Extension website to learn about many other educational opportunities.

[Posted: March 28, 2024]

4/1/2024