Sport fish consumption advisories and projected cancer risks in the Great Lakes basin

Abstract

Because Great Lakes sport fish are contaminated with several toxicants, the Great Lakes states individually issue advisories, principally based on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) action levels, that suggest limiting or eliminating consumption of contaminated fish. We describe the procedures the states use to determine when to issue consumption advisories and we evaluate the associated cancer risks using EPA-IARC-OSTP risk assessment procedures. Projected cancer risks are high for consumers of small quantities of sport fish contaminated with DDT or dieldrin at their respective action levels. Projected risks at concentrations that are common but below the action levels are also substantial. We propose that sport fish with tissue concentrations of DDT or dieldrin one-fifth and one-third of the action levels should be covered by consumption advisories to warn consumers of the potential adverse health impacts.