Recent Advisory News

• California Releases Fish Consumption Report - The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) of the California Environmental Protection Agency announced the release of the final report Chemicals in Fish: Consumption of Fish and Shellfish in California and the United States. The Final Report is based on an extensive review of fish consumption surveys conducted throughout the United States, and includes a critical evaluation of these studies. The information and recommendations contained in the report are planned to be used for supporting the functions and activities of various state programs including development of fish advisories, development of water quality objectives for environmental contaminants, and other exposure-related assessments. A copy of the report is available at OEHHA's web site.

Current Events, News and Journal Articles

• Sierra Club Feature: Fishing for Life - The November/December 2001 issue of Sierra magazine contains a feature article that examines the complex environmental and social issues surrounding fish contamination. The author interviewed many community leaders and presents their viewpoints, and portrays the cultural and economic necessity of fish consumption for many Americans. "There is not an alternative life for us" says Pat Cochran of the Alaska Native Science Commission. "We will live subsistence or we will die." The 8 page article also includes quotes from state officials, scientists, and other risk communication professionals, many of whom attended the EPA/Minnesota Department of Health Risk Communication Conference in May 2001.

  Source: Rauber, Paul. Fishing For Life. Sierra (the magazine of the Sierra Club) November/December 2001

• Chemical Residues in Breast Milk - During a conference held at the New York Academy of Medicine, scientists and health professionals discussed the need for more research into chemical contaminants that can be present in breast milk and can be passed on to breastfeeding infants. During the first six months of breastfeeding, it is estimated that a woman can shift 20% of her total body burden of contaminants to her child. PCBs, DDT, and dioxins can all be present in breast milk, although few studies have been done to determine the levels of these contaminants in average American women. The levels of these contaminants seem to have been declining, although new chemicals such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE's), which are used as flame retardants, are increasing exponentially in breast milk. Experts still agree that breast feeding is the best source of nutrition for infants, as many studies show that breast fed babies are healthier than those who are fed on formula. Participants at the conference agreed that more research is needed to study the long term affects of contaminants in breast milk.

  Source: Tarkan, Laurie. Research is urged for healthier breast milk. The New York Times October 16, 2001.

• Fish Consumption and Breast Milk Contaminants Among Mowhawk Women - Mowhawk women residing along the St. Lawrence river were studied to determine if their breast milk contained contaminants related to the consumption of local fish. From 1986 to 1990, Mowhawk women who gave birth had significantly higher levels of DDE and mirex in breast milk than did a control group. The level of DDE in breast milk did decline from 1986 to 1990, paralleling a decrease in local fish consumption that might have been the result of fish advisories that recommend against the consumption of local fish by pregnant and nursing Mowhawk women.

  Source: Fitzgerald, E. F., S. A. Hwang, D. A. Deres, B. Bush, K. Cook, P. Worswick. 2001. The association between local fish consumption and DDE, mirex, and HCB concentrations in the breast milk of Mowhawk women at Akwesasne. Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology 11(5): pp. 381-388.

• Relation Between Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease - A study was conducted to examine the relationship between concentrations of different n-3 fatty acids and cardiovascular disease risk factors among Quebecers. The study included over 1,400 subjects and found that concentrations of the fatty acids were positively correlated with fish consumption. The different n-3 fatty acids studied include eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The fatty acid EPA was shown to positively influence HDL cholesterol levels. A low level of HDL, the "good" cholesterol, is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

  Source: Dewailly, E. E., C. Blanchet, S. Gingras, S. Lemieux, L. Sauve, J. Bergeron, B. J. Holub. 2001. Relations between n-3 fatty acid status and cardiovascular disease risk factors among Quebecers. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 74(5): pp. 603-611.

• Differences in Mercury Levels Among Fish Species from the Savannah River - A study conducted on fish from the Savannnah River found that interspecific differences in fish tissue mercury concentrations generally reflected trophic levels. For instance, species in the higher trophic levels, such as bowfin, largemouth bass, and pickerel, all had high mercury concentrations. Sunfish had the lowest levels of mercury. The researchers also tested for selenium in fish tissue, because of the protective effect selenium has against mercury toxicity. Selenium and mercury concentrations were positively correlated for 3 species (bass, perch, and red-breasted sunfish). In most cases the fish species tested did not have contaminant levels high enough to be of risk to consumers, with the exception of bowfin and bass. Contaminant levels in those two species were high enough to pose potential threat to high-level consumers such as humans.

  Source:Burger J., K.F. Gaines, C.S. Boring, W. L. Stephens Jr., J. Snodgrass, M. Gochfeld. 2001. Mercury and selenium in fish from the Savannah River: species, trophic level, and locaitonal differences. Environmental Research 87(2): pp. 108-118.

• PCBs and Mercury Exposure in Inuit Women - A study by Canadian researchers focused on Inuit women of childbearing age and their blood concentrations of PCBs, mercury, and selenium. Hair mercury concentrations were also measured. The women ate significant amounts of fish, beluga fat, seal meat, and seal fat. Fish and seal meat consumption was associated with increased mercury concentrations in the hair samples. The consumption of traditional foods during pregnancy did not relate to PCB body burden, which is more dependent on lifetime consumption levels. Although the fact that contaminants are present in traditional foods is widely known, a large number of the Inuit women believe these foods are beneficial during pregnancy and actually increased their consumption of traditional foods while pregnant.

  Source: Muckle, G., P. Ayotte, E. Dewailly, S.W. Jacobsen, J.L. Jacobsen. 2001. Determinants of polychlorinated biphenyls and methylmercury exposure in Inuit women of childbearing age. Environmental Health Perspectives 109(9): pp. 957-63.

• Fish Helps Protect Against Lung Cancer - Japanese researchers studied smokers and found that those who ate lots of fresh fish were less likely to develop lung cancer than those who ate little or no fresh fish. Consumption of salted or dried fish did not have any effect on lung cancer rates. The authors of the study, which originally appeared in the British Journal of Cancer, suggest that the high rate of fresh fish consumption in Japan may be one reason that country has a much lower rate of lung cancer than Britain, although both populations smoke at comparable rates.

  Source: Chemist and Druggist. May 12, 2001. Fish helps protect against lung cancer. Page 10.

• PCBs and Organochlorine Pesticides Found in Deep Sea Fish - Scottish researchers report on the concentrations of dieldrin, DDT, hexachlorobenzene, chlordane, and PCBs found in monkfish and black scabbard from the Rockall Trough west of Scotland. Both of these deep sea species are commercially fished.

  Source: Mormede, S., and I. M. Davies. 2001. Polychlorobiphenyl and pesticide residues in monkfish and black scabbard from the Rockall Trough. ICES Journal of Marine Science 58(3): p. 725.

• Exposure of an Inuit Population to Mercury and Lead - Almost 500 Inuit men and women were tested for blood mercury and lead concentrations in 1992. Results showed that mercury levels were correlated (r=.56) with omega-3 fatty acid levels (a biomarker of marine food consumption). Blood lead levels were also correlated with omega-3, although to a lesser extent (r=.31). Age and consumption of seal and beluga were also related to mercury levels. A significant proportion of the women of childbearing age had mercury and lead concentrations above those that have been associated with subtle neurodevelopmental deficits in other populations.

  Source: Dewailly, E., P. Ayotte, S. Bruneau, G. Lebel, P. Levallois, J. P. Weber. 2001. Exposure of the Inuit population of Nunavik (Arctic Quebec) to lead and mercury. Archives of Environmental Health 56(4): pp. 350-357.

• EPA and NIEH Fund New Centers to Study Health Effects of Environmental Contaminants - A new federally-funded center at the University of Illinois will study the health effects of exposure to toxic contaminants from consuming contaminanted fish. The center will focus on populations of Laotian and Hmong refugees in Wisconsin, and the researchers will also develop outreach programs to help these populations reduce their consumption of fish contaminated with mercury and PCBs. Four other centers, including one at the Univeristy of Illinois, are being funded by EPA and NIEH to study the health effects of environmental contaminants on children. The centers will each receive $1 million each year for the next 5 years.

  Source: Children's Environmental Health Network (CEHN).

Meetings and Conferences

For More Information

For more information on EPA's Fish and Wildlife Contamination Program, contact: Jeffrey Bigler at US EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (4305), Washington, DC 20460; email: bigler.jeff@epa.gov.