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

A study was conducted to assess local fish consumption patterns and their relationship to concentrations of total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the serum of Mohawk men residing near three hazardous waste sites. From 1992 to 1995, 139 men were interviewed and donated a 20-ml venous blood sample. The results indicated that the men ate a mean of 21.2 local fish meals during the past year, compared with annual means of 27.7 meals 1-2 years before and 88.6 meals more than 2 years before (P<0.001 for test of trend). This change is probably a consequence of advisories issued against the consumption of local fish, since 97% of the men were aware of the advisories and two-thirds had changed their behavior as a result. Multiple regression analysis revealed that serum PCB levels increased with age (beta=0.036, P<0.001) and local fish consumption (beta=0.088, P=0.006). The data suggest that local fish consumption has contributed to body burdens in this population and that the advisories have been effective in modifying local fish consumption habits.