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Factors in Exposure Assessment: Ethnic and Socioeconomic Differences in Fishing and Consumption of Fish Caught along the Savannah River

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  • Joanna Burger
  • Warren L. Stephens
  • C. Shane Boring
  • Michelle Kuklinski
  • J. Whitfield Gibbons
  • Michael Gochfeld

Abstract

South Carolina has issued fish consumption advisories for the Savannah River based on mercury and radionuclide levels. We examine differences in fishing rates and fish consumption of 258 people interviewed while fishing along the Savannah River, as a function of age, education, ethnicity, employment history, and income, and test the assumption that the average consumption of fish is less than the recreational value of 19 kg/year assumed by risk assessors. Ethnicity and education contributed significantly to explaining variations in number of fish meals per month, serving size, and total quantity of fish consumed per year. Blacks fished more often, ate more fish meals of slightly larger serving sizes, and consumed more fish per year than did Whites. Although education and income were correlated, education contributed most significantly to behavior; people who did not graduate from high school ate fish more often, ate more fish per year, and ate more whole fish than people who graduated from high school. Computing consumption of fish for each person individually indicates that (1) people who eat fish more often also eat larger portions, (2) a substantial number of people consume more than the amount of fish used to compute risk to recreational fishermen, (3) some people consume more than the subsistence level default assumption (50 kglyear) and (4) Blacks consume more fish per year than Whites, putting them at greater risk from contaminants in fish. Overall, ethnicity, age, and education contributed to variations in fishing behavior and consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Joanna Burger & Warren L. Stephens & C. Shane Boring & Michelle Kuklinski & J. Whitfield Gibbons & Michael Gochfeld, 1999. "Factors in Exposure Assessment: Ethnic and Socioeconomic Differences in Fishing and Consumption of Fish Caught along the Savannah River," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 19(3), pages 427-438, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:riskan:v:19:y:1999:i:3:p:427-438
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.1999.tb00418.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Christine M. Velicer & Barbara A. Knuth, 1994. "Communicating Contaminant Risks from Sport‐Caught Fish: The Importance of Target Audience Assessment," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(5), pages 833-841, October.
    2. Paul Sparks & Richard Shepherd, 1994. "Public Perceptions of the Potential Hazards Associated with Food Production and Food Consumption: An Empirical Study," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 14(5), pages 799-806, October.
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    1. Vinaya Kumar Hebsale Mallappa & Shakti Ranjan Panigrahy & Archit Kumar Nayak & Rambirsingh Pundir & Prity Kumari, 2023. "Factors Influencing the Knowledge Level of Fish Consumers: An Explanatory Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-16, June.
    2. Branden B. Johnson, 2002. "Gender and Race in Beliefs about Outdoor Air Pollution," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 22(4), pages 725-738, August.
    3. Bin Che & Kodjo N’Souvi & Chen Sun & Markus Leibrecht & Bingainkiya Nantob, 2022. "Between Tradition, Strategies and Taste: Understanding Fish Consumption Habits in Togo," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-14, September.
    4. Joanna Burger, 2012. "Selenium:mercury molar ratios in fish from the Savannah River: implications for risk management," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(6), pages 627-644, June.
    5. Cynthia G. Jardine, 2003. "Development of a Public Participation and Communication Protocol for Establishing Fish Consumption Advisories," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(3), pages 461-471, June.
    6. J. Burger & B. B. Johnson & S. Shukla & M. Gochfeld, 2003. "Perceptions of Recreational Fishing Boat Captains: Knowledge and Effects of Fish Consumption Advisories," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(2), pages 369-378, April.

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