Basic Information

Fact Sheet EPA-823-F-01-028 (Novenber 2001) (PDF, 243KB)

• Summary
• Background
• Why is this study important?
• What are the basic elements of the study design?
• What chemicals did we select for the study?
• Who is participating in the study?
• What are the key study accomplishments and milestones?

• Who do I contact for more information?

Summary

We are conducting a screening-level study to estimate the national distribution of selected persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemical residues in fish tissue from lakes and reservoirs of the contiguous United States. This four-year study will define national background levels for 268 chemicals in fish, establish a baseline to track progress of pollution control activities, and identify areas where contaminant levels are high enough to warrant further investigation.

Background

Monitoring fish for chemical contamination in lakes and reservoirs is a critical activity for protecting human health because they are important areas for sport fishing and other recreational activities. The 2001 update to our National Listing of Fish and Wildlife Advisories reports that 28% of the Nation’s lake acres are under fish consumption advisories.

Lakes and reservoirs occur in a variety of landscapes and can receive contaminants from several sources, including direct discharges into the water, air deposition, and agricultural or urban runoff. Lakes are the focus of this study because they are environments where contamination accumulates and is more readily detectable.

We initiated The National Study of Chemical Residues in Lake Fish Tissue (or National Fish Tissue Study) in 1998 as a priority activity under the Agency’s Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic Chemicals (PBT) Initiative. It supports the PBT Initiative by providing data for a large set of chemicals in fish that could affect the health of people and wildlife that eat fish from these environments.

Why is this study important?

The National Fish Tissue Study is important because:

• It is the first national fish tissue survey to be based on a random sampling design, which will allow us to develop national estimates of the mean levels of persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals in fish tissue.
• It will provide data on the largest set of persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals ever studied in fish.

What are the basic elements of the study design?

We are working with partner agencies over a four-year period to collect fish from 500 randomly selected lakes and reservoirs of the estimated 270,000 lakes and reservoirs in the continental United States. The lakes are divided into 6 size categories, ranging from 2.5 to over 900,000 surface acres, with a similar number of lakes in each category. Before sampling, field teams verify that each lake is a permanent body of water with a depth of at least one meter.

Sampling teams are applying consistent methods nationwide to collect composites of one predator species and one bottom-dwelling species at each lake. Composites consist of 5 adult fish of similar size that are large enough to provide 560 grams (20 ounces) of tissue for analysis of fillets for predators and whole bodies for bottom dwellers. We are analyzing each composite for 268 chemicals (including PCB congeners and breakdown products).

What chemicals did we select for the study?

We are analyzing the fish tissue for:

• 2 metals (mercury and arsenic)
• 17 dioxins and furans
• 159 PCB congener measurements
• 46 pesticides
• 40 other organics (e.g., phenols)

Who is participating in the study?

We formed a national network of study partners to pursue a broad range of activities, from development of the study design to collection of fish for the study. Important contributors include:

• EPA Office of Water
• EPA Office of Research and
  Development
• EPA Office of Prevention,
  Pesticides, and Toxic Substances
• EPA Regions
• State and Tribal Agencies
• National Park Service and TVA

What are the key study accomplishments and milestones?

The study consists of four phases:

Who do I contact for more information?

Leanne Stahl
OW/Office of Science and Technology
Mail Code 4305T
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20460
(202) 566-0404
stahl.leanne@epa.gov

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