Application of Mercury Fish Advisories in the Midwest

Pat McCann

Minnesota Dept of Health

State Fish Consumption Advice

Safe dose approach– Based on Risk Assessment Methods (U.S. EPA

Guidelines)– Many states provide separate advice for “kids &

moms” and the rest of the population

Benefits addressed qualitatively

Mercury in Fish vs. Meal Advice

Hg (ppm) Meal Advice

< 0.12 2 meals / week

0.12 - 0.23 1 meal / week

0.23 - 0.47 2 meals / month

0.47 – 1.0 1 meal / month

> 1.0 Do not eat

A G uide to Y our H ealth

Fish are nut r it ious and good t o eat . But some fi sh may t ake in cont aminant s f romt he wat er t hey l ive in and t he f ood t hey eat . Some of t hese cont aminant s buil d upin t he fi sh - and you - over t ime. These cont aminant s coul d harm t he peopl e who eatt hem, so it is impor t ant t o keep your exposure t o t hese cont aminant s as l ow aspossibl e. This advisor y hel ps you pl an what fi sh t o keep as wel l as how of t en andhow much spor t fi sh t o eat . This advisor y is not int ended t o discourage you f romeat ing fi sh, but shoul d be used as a guide t o eat ing fi sh l ow in cont aminant s.

He alth B enefits

When proper l y prepar ed, fi sh provide a diet high in prot ein and l ow in sat urat edf at s. Many doct ors suggest t hat eat ing a hal f -pound of fi sh each week is hel pf ulin prevent ing hear t disease. Al most any kind of fi sh may have real heal t h benefi t swhen it repl aces a high-f at source of prot ein in t he diet . You can get t he heal t hbenefi t s of fi sh and reduce unwant ed cont aminant s by f ol l owing t his advisor y.

Fish Consumption Advice

Overall Message– EAT FISH– Make choices

Challenge = provide information about contaminants in fish without scaring people away from eating fish altogether

Midwest Fish

Fish Type Hg (ppm) Meal Advice

Panfish < 0.12 2 meals / week

Panfish 0.12 - 0.23 1 meal / week

Predator fish 0.23 - 0.47 2 meals / month

Predator fish 0.47 – 1.0 1 meal / month

Predator fish > 1.0 Do not eat

Commercial Fish Consumption Advice – using FDA data & EPA RfD

Meal Advice Species

2 meals / week Salmon, cod, pollock, canned “light” tuna, catfish, tilapia, herring, sardines,

shrimp, crab, scallops, oysters

2 meals / month Canned “white” tuna, tuna steak, halibut, lobster

Do not eat Shark, swordfish, tile fish, king mackerel

Communication Methods

Annual production and distribution of outreach materials– Rely on Partners to Distribute:

State agencies, environmental groups, resorts, guides, healthcare providers

Web site Annual Press Release – target news media to

increase awareness– Newspaper, Radio, TV

Targeted Outreach to Women

WIC Maternal Child Health Local Public Health Agencies Healthcare Providers

– HMOs– Prenatal care

Source: H. Anderson, WDHFS

Source: H. Anderson, WDHFS

Survey of 1,000 Women who Gave Birth in WI June 1-7, 2003

Purpose of Survey

To assess:– fish consumption during pregnancy– awareness of the fish consumption advisory– familiarity with selected outreach materials

Source: H. Anderson, WDHFS

Source: H. Anderson, WDHFS

Questions?

Ideas?