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A National Fish Consumption Advisory Data Base: A Step toward Consistency
Author(s) -
Cunningham Patricia A.,
Smith Susan L.,
Tippett John P.,
Greene Alison
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
fisheries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1548-8446
pISSN - 0363-2415
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8446(1994)019<0014:anfcad>2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - geography , fish <actinopterygii> , environmental science , agency (philosophy) , fishery , advisory committee , environmental health , environmental protection , political science , public administration , biology , epistemology , medicine , philosophy
Abstract In 1990, the Research Triangle Institute compiled a list of fish consumption advisories resulting from chemical contamination of fish and shellfish species throughout the United States. A major update of the data file in September 1993 revealed significant information on fish advisories. Regionally, the Great Lakes states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin) have issued 73% of the listed advisories. The predominance of data from these states in the data base listings strongly influences the interpretation of other results, such as summaries of pollutants that trigger the most advisories, types of waterbodies where advisories are most commonly issued, and families and species most often cited in advisories. Four contaminants (mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, chlordane, and dioxin) are responsible for more than 90% of all advisories. Advisories for lakes represent two‐thirds of all advisories issued by states. Seventy‐five finfish species from 20 finfish families are listed in advisories nationwide. The results of a comprehensive review of the data base are presented with appropriate caveats that provide a better understanding of the summary results. The data base is available to states, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional staff, federal agencies, and the public on the EPA Nonpoint Source Bulletin Board System under the Fish Advisory Special Interest Group.