Fish Consumption, Perception of Risk, and
Estimations of Contaminant Exposure for
Recreational Fishers of the Chesapeake Bay

Amie Urton

Advisor/Preceptor: Shelley Harris, Ph.D.

The steady increase in fishing advisories and the greater fish consumption by recreational and subsistence fishers have led to a recent proliferation of research pertaining to this subset of the population. In this study, the fish consumption patterns, risk perceptions and estimated exposures to contaminants were examined among 99 recreational and occupational fishers residing around the Chesapeake Bay. Two methods of collecting fish consumption data were compared. In the first method, subjects were asked about their fish consumption in terms of whole food group, i.e. fish. In the second method subjects were asked about their fish consumption in terms of specific types of fish. The median number of fish meals consumed a year was significantly different depending on the method used, 52 and 67 respectively. Through the use of multiple regression, occupation and several risk perceptions were found to be significantly correlated with fish consumption levels. Furthermore, based on fish consumption by specific type of fish, subjects consuming the highest levels of fish were estimated to have exceeded the reference dose for certain PCBs. However, if environmental data are to be used in assessing human risk, then additional data on fish contamination levels and fish consumption are necessary.