A NATIONAL FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY DATA-BASE - A STEP TOWARD CONSISTENCY

In 1990, the Research Triangle Institute compiled a list of fish consu mption advisories resulting from chemical contamination of fish and sh ellfish species throughout the United States. A major update of the da ta file in September 1993 revealed significant information on fish adv isories. Regionally, the Great Lakes states (Illinois, Indiana, Michig an, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin) have issue d 73% of the listed advisories. The predominance of data from these st ates in the data base listings strongly influences the interpretation of other results, such as summaries of pollutants that trigger the mos t 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 dioxi n) are responsible for more than 90% of all advisories. Advisories for lakes represent two-thirds of all advisories issued by states. Sevent y-five finfish species from 20 finfish families are listed in advisori es nationwide. The results of a comprehensive review of the data base are presented with appropriate caveats that provide a better understan ding of the summary results. The data base is available to states, Env ironmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional staff, federal agencies, a nd the public on the EPA Nonpoint Source Bulletin Board System under t he Fish Advisory Special Interest Group.