The Virginia Department of Health has issued modified and new warnings about eating fish caught from various rivers and reservoirs around the state.

The new fish consumption advisories were issued yesterday because of mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls contamination. In some cases, residents are being advised to eat no more than two meals a month of specific fish. Some species of fish, however, should not be eaten at all from certain waters.

The new and modified advisories involve fish caught in Lovills Creek Lake, the Dan River, Nottoway River, Emporia Reservoir, Meherrin River, Big Cherry Reservoir and Lake Witten.

For complete details, including affected water body boundaries and localities, type of contaminant and species advisories, visit the health department's Web page at: www.vdh.virginia.gov.

"Fish consumption advisories alert people of contaminants present in the fish and the potential health effects that come from eating these fish, but do not prohibit people from eating fish," said Michele Monti, director of the state's Division of Environmental Epidemiology. "The advisories are intended to help people choose fish wisely."

However, women who are pregnant or who may soon become pregnant, nursing mothers and young children should not eat fish from these advisory areas to avoid ingesting mercury or PCBs, health officials say.