State officials downplay arsenic found in Tangipahoa River seafood after Smitty’s Supply explosion

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Five of 13 Tangipahoa River seafood samples showed harmful arsenic levels following the August industrial fire.

The contamination stems from the Smitty’s Supply petroleum facility fire that spilled millions of gallons of oil.

LDEQ said other contaminants were below harmful levels; arsenic type (organic or inorganic) not yet identified.

The river has had a separate mercury-related fish advisory in effect since 2003.

Seafood tissue samples taken from the Tangipahoa River last month contained harmful levels of arsenic in five of the 13 samples tested, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality reported.

It’s the latest update from state officials on the river’s health after the Aug. 22 fire and explosion at the Smitty’s Supply Inc. petroleum products facility in