Human Health Exposure Factor Estimates Based Upon A Creel/Angler Survey of the Lower Passaic River (Part 3)

Abstract

The results of an analysis of site-specific creel and angler information collected for the lower 6 miles of the Passaic River in Newark, NJ (Study Area), demonstrate that performing a site-specific creel/angler survey was essential to capture the unique characteristics of the anglers using the Study Area. The results presented were developed using a unique methodology for calculating site-specific, human exposure estimates from data collected in this unique urban/industrial setting. The site-specific human exposure factors calculated and presented include (1) size of angler population and fish-consuming population, (2) annual fish consumption rate, (3) duration of anglers' fishing careers, (4) cooking methods for the fish consumed, and (5) demographic information. Sensitivity and validation analyses were performed, and results were found to be useful for performing a site-specific, human health risk assessment. It was also concluded that site-specific exposure factor values are preferable to less representative "default values." The results of the analysis showed that the size of the angling population at the Study Area is estimated to range from 154 to 385 anglers, based on different methods of matching intercepts with anglers. Thirty-four anglers were estimated to have consumed fish; 37 people consumed fish from the river. The fish consumption rate for anglers using this area was best represented as 0.42 g/day for the central tendency and 1.8 g/day for the 95th percentile estimates. Anglers fishing at the river have relatively short fishing careers with a median of 0.9 yr, an average of 1.5 yr, and a 95th percentile of 4.8 yr. Consuming anglers tend to fry the fish they caught. The demographics of anglers who consume fish do not appear to differ substantially from those who do not, with no indication of a subsistence angling population.

Risk of Gastrointestinal Disease Associated with Exposure to Pathogens in the Water of the Lower Passaic River

“…The visitor scenario is intended to represent individuals who may engage in activities with minimal water contact, such as anglers, boaters, individuals wading in the surface water, and individuals engaging in other activities that may not be limited to the summer months. It is known that angling occurs at several points along the Lower Passaic River throughout the year (14,23,24), and USEPA considered this a complete pathway in their risk assessment of the Lower Passaic River (2). In this scenario, the potential route of exposure is indirect ingestion as a result of hand-to-mouth activities.…”

“…Angling and other recreational activities are relatively infrequent, due in part to the highly industrial and developed shoreline along the lower 6 miles of the river. However, recreational activities are known to occur as there are access points where individuals catch fish (which they may consume) and otherwise come in contact with surface water (14,23,24). In addition, homeless populations have been observed living along the shores of this section of the river (21).…”

Risk of Gastrointestinal Disease Associated with Exposure to Pathogens in the Sediments of the Lower Passaic River

“…The visitor exposure scenario is intended to quantify potential risks among individuals who may engage in activities with minimal sediment contact, such as anglers, picnickers, or people collecting trash from the shoreline. It is known that angling occurs at several points along the Lower Passaic River on a regular basis (29,41,42), and USEPA considered this to be a complete pathway in their draft risk assessment of the Lower Passaic River (7). Again, a triangular distribution was assumed for incidental ingestion (mg/day) for adults and adolescents (minimum ϭ 25, mode ϭ 50, maximum ϭ 95).…”

Euthynnus affinis(little tuna): fishery, bionomics, seasonal elemental variations, health risk assessment and conservational management

“…The first criterion is straightforward, whereas the second is based upon the extensive creel angler survey (CAS) conducted in the study area, thus providing very detailed information about fish consumption patterns (Ray et al 2007). …”

“…This evaluation was limited to fish tissue collected in the lower six miles of the coast (referred to as the study area) because this is an area of intense focus by regulatory agencies and it is the location with the greatest amount of available data. This area is also the subject of a robust creel angler survey (CAS), which provides unparalleled site-specific information for use in such a human health risk assessment (Ray et al 2007). The secondary goal of this study, and ultimately its most important feature with respect to risk assessment, was to define an exposure parameter known as the 'Representative Fish.'…”