Local fish consumption and serum PCB concentrations among Mohawk men at Akwesasne

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Toxicology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Hazardous waste sites can contaminate local ecosystems, including fish populations.
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants that can accumulate in fish and pose health risks.
• Indigenous communities often have unique dietary patterns involving local resources, making them vulnerable to environmental contaminants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess local fish consumption patterns among Mohawk men near hazardous waste sites.
• To investigate the relationship between local fish consumption and serum polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of public health advisories on fish consumption behavior.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 139 Mohawk men provided dietary information and donated blood samples between 1992 and 1995.
• Dietary data included the frequency of local fish meals consumed over different time periods.
• Serum PCB concentrations were analyzed, and statistical methods, including multiple regression, were used to identify influencing factors.

Main Results:

• Local fish consumption significantly decreased over the study period (P<0.001).
• 97% of participants were aware of advisories against consuming local fish, and two-thirds altered their behavior.
• Serum PCB levels were positively correlated with age (beta=0.036) and local fish consumption (beta=0.088).

Conclusions:

• Local fish consumption has contributed to PCB body burdens in the studied Mohawk population.
• Public health advisories appear effective in reducing local fish consumption.
• Continued monitoring and targeted interventions may be necessary to mitigate long-term health risks.