Abstract  Fish consumption rates derived from national surveys may not accurately reflect consumption rates in a particular population such as recreational anglers. Many state and local health agencies in the U.S. have conducted area-specific surveys to study fish consumption patterns in local populations, assess exposure to environmental contaminants, or evaluate compliance with fish advisories. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has analyzed the raw data from fish consumption surveys in Florida, Connecticut, Minnesota, and North Dakota for the purpose of deriving distributions of fish consumption rates and studying the variables that may be more predictive of high-end consumers. Distributions of fish consumption for different age cohorts, ethnic groups, socioeconomic statuses, types of fish (i.e., freshwater, marine, estuarine), and source of fish (i.e., store-bought versus self-caught) were derived. Consumption of fish and shellfish for those who consume both caught and bought fish is higher than those who reported eating only bought or only self-caught. Mean fish consumption per kilogram of body weight ranged from 0.11 g/kg-day to 2.3 g/kg-day. The highest values were observed in Florida for children 1<6 years of age. The Florida data show a statistically significant increase in the percentage of the population reporting fish and shellfish consumption with an increase in household income and education. This trend was not observed in the other states.

Abstract  This report contains estimates of food intakes by individuals residing in households in the entire United States. The estimates were based on information obtained from 14,262 non-breast fed individuals ages 2 and above who provided 2 days of dietary intake information in the 1994-96 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII 1994-96), conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Food intake data were collected by in-person interviews from 1994 through 1996.

Abstract  In 1995, the Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN) entered into an agreement with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Environmental Justice to conduct a seafood consumption survey through the "Richmond Laotian Seafood Consumption Research and Education Project." The survey was conducted as a project of the Laotian Organizing Project and was integrated into LOP's organizing work within the Laotian community. In December 1994, the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board released the findings from their study on contaminant levels in fish from San Francisco Bay which found that Bay fish are contaminated with PCBs, mercury, dieldrin, chlordanes, DDTs, and dioxins. Following the release of this report, health officials issued an advisory against eating most species of Bay-caught fish more than twice a month. Surveys on fishing activity and fish consumption in California suggest that Asians and Pacific Islanders (APIs) fish more and consume greater quantities of self-caught fish than white people. While Laotian families in the Richmond area fish and eat fish frequently, most are not aware of the health advisories. The purpose of this report is to document this project's process and findings, and to provide recommendations based on the survey findings. The main goals for documentation are (1) to provide a model for future community-based research efforts and (2) to inform advisories, policies and regulations related to contaminated fish consumption.

Abstract  This report provides a set of early-life stage age groups for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, or the Agency) scientists to consider when assessing children's exposure to environmental contaminants and the resultant potential dose. These recommended age groups are based on current understanding of differences in behavior and physiology that may impact exposures in children. A consistent set of early-life age groups, supported by an underlying scientific rationale, is expected to improve Agency exposure and risk assessments for children by increasing the consistency and comparability of risk assessments across the Agency, improving accuracy and transparency in assessments for those cases where current practice might too broadly combine behaviorally and physiologically disparate age groups, and fostering a consistent approach to future exposure surveys and monitoring efforts to generate improved exposure factors for children.

Abstract  The seafood consumption habits and demographics of non-commercial fishermen catching potentially hazardous seafood in Commencement Bay, Washington are examined. The ultimate aim of this study is ta develop a health/risk model to project the potential health impact of eating contaminated seafood.

Abstract  BACKGROUND: The current, continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) has included blood mercury (BHg) and fish/shellfish consumption since it began in 1999. NHANES 1999-2004 data form the basis for these analyses. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to determine BHg distributions within U.S. Census regions and within coastal and noncoastal areas among women of childbearing age, their association with patterns of fish consumption, and changes from 1999 through 2004. METHODS: We performed univariate and bivariate analyses to determine the distribution of BHg and fish consumption in the population and to investigate differences by geography, race/ethnicity, and income. We used multivariate analysis (regression) to determine the strongest predictors of BHg among geography, demographic factors, and fish consumption. RESULTS: Elevated BHg occurred more commonly among women of childbearing age living in coastal areas of the United States (approximately one in six women). Regionally, exposures differ across the United States: Northeast > South and West > Midwest. Asian women and women with higher income ate more fish and had higher BHg. Time-trend analyses identified reduced BHg and reduced intake of Hg in the upper percentiles without an overall reduction of fish consumption. CONCLUSIONS: BHg is associated with income, ethnicity, residence (census region and coastal proximity). From 1999 through 2004, BHg decreased without a concomitant decrease in fish consumption. Data are consistent with a shift over this time period in fish species in women's diets.

Abstract  There has been widespread interest in the exposure of indigenous and subsistence populations to a variety of contaminants through the consumption of wild fish and game, yet there is little information on recreationists. Information on wild fish and game consumption in South Carolina are presented here, data on other sources of animal protein are presented elsewhere. Data are presented for use in probabilistic risk assessment. Fish and deer were the most commonly eaten wild-caught foods. High-end consumers were eating at nearly 10x the median consumption rate for most wild-caught foods. There were significant differences in consumption as a function of age and ethnicity that should be taken into account when conducting risk assessments for the consumption of wild-caught meat and fish. Men consumed more of these foods, while white sportsmen consumed more deer and black sportsmen consumed more fish. Similar data are not generally available, either for the U.S. as a whole, or for specific geographical locations, although there are data for self-caught fish because of the issuance of consumption advisories for U.S. waters.

Abstract  Recreational and subsistence fishing play major roles in the lives of many people, although their importance in urban areas is often underestimated. There are fish and shellfish consumption advisories in the New York-New Jersey harbor estuary, particularly in the waters of the Newark Bay Complex. This paper examines fishing behavior, consumption patterns, and the reasons that people fish in the Newark Bay Complex. I test the null hypotheses that there are no differences among Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, and Whites in consumption patterns for fish and crabs and in the reasons that they fish or crab. Most people either fished or crabbed, but not both. People who fish and crab ate more grams of crab than fish in a given meal; people who crab only consumed more grams of crab at a meal than those who fish only consumed of fish. Although 30% or more of the people who fished and crabbed in the Newark Bay Complex did not eat their self-caught fish or crabs 8-25% of the people ate more than 1500 g/month. Some people angling in the Newark Bay Complex are eating crabs at a rate well over 1500 g/month, and about 70% are eating crabs even though there is a total ban on both harvest and consumption because of the health risks from dioxin. Consumption patterns were negatively correlated with mean income and positively correlated with mean age. Most people rated relaxation and being outdoors the highest reasons for angling, although on an open-ended question they usually listed recreation. There were no ethnic differences in reasons for angling, although other studies have shown ethnic differences in consumption. Obtaining fish or crabs to eat, give away, trade, or sell were rated low, suggesting that consumption advisories fail partly because people are not primarily fishing for food.

Abstract  Three fish consumption surveys were conducted in King County, WA during 1997-2003. These surveys were conducted to support environmental analyses of proposed capital improvement projects planned by the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks. Personal interviews were conducted at marine, estuarine, and freshwater locations throughout King County. Over 1300 anglers participated in the survey and provided consumption information. A majority of the respondents from the surveys (30-71%) were Caucasian, while the remaining respondents comprised various ethnic groups. The mean consumption rates for consumers of marine fish, shellfish, and freshwater fish were 53, 25, and 10 g/day, respectively. Results indicate that the consumption patterns of marine anglers from King County have remained consistent since the mid-1980s. The consumption distribution for marine anglers suggests that some respondents may consume fish as a large portion of their diet. The consumption habits of freshwater anglers are comparable to those of other recreational anglers throughout the United States. The survey results provide distributions of marine and freshwater fish consumption suitable for risk assessments conducted for anglers residing in King County, WA.

Abstract  This report displays daily average per capita fish consumption estimates. The objective of the report is to provide estimates of fish consumption that may be used in estimating risk to human health from the consumption of contaminated freshwater and estuarine finfish and shellfish species. The reported estimates were calculated using data from the combined 1994-1996 and 1998 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII), conducted annually by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Estimates in this report are of “as prepared” and “uncooked” fish. The “as prepared” designation indicates that consumptions of prepared foods containing fish which were reported by the CSFII participants were adjusted to reflect the amount of consumed prepared fish. “Uncooked” fish estimates project the portion of prepared fish to the amount of uncooked fish tissue which entered the fish–containing consumed food. Thus, the estimates in this report are not biased high due to other ingredients in fish–containing prepared foods.

Abstract  Sport-caught fish consumption is the major source of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) exposure for the general population. To assess this and 2,2'-bis-(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (DDE) exposure, we surveyed 801 Wisconsin anglers for fishing and consumption habits and comprehension of and compliance with the Wisconsin fish consumption health advisory. The mean annual number of sport-caught fish meals was 18. Seventy-two percent of anglers were familiar with the health advisory and 57% had changed their fishing or fish consumption habits as a result of the advisory. The mean PCB serum congener sum level for 192 anglers was 2.2 micrograms/l (range = nondetectable to 27.1 micrograms/l); mean DDE was 6.3 micrograms/l (range = nondetectable to 40.0 micrograms/l). Statistically significant positive Spearman correlations were observed between sport-caught fish meals and PCB and DDE sera levels (R = .21 and .14, respectively) and between kilograms of fish caught and PCB sera levels (R = .25). These results demonstrate that anglers may provide a population for assessment of PCBs and DDE associated morbidity and mortality.