Levels of persistent contaminants in relation to fish consumption among older male anglers in Wisconsin

Abstract

Fish are an important source of nutrients which may reduce risk of adverse health outcomes such as cardiovascular disease; however, fish may also contain significant amounts of environmental pollutants such as mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs, also called perfluoroalkyl compounds), which confer increased risk for adverse health effects. The Wisconsin Departments of Health Services and Natural Resources developed a survey instrument, along with a strategy to collect human biological samples to assess the risks and benefits associated with long-term fish consumption among older male anglers in Wisconsin. The target population was men aged 50 years and older, who fish Wisconsin waters and live in the state of Wisconsin. Participants provided blood and hair samples and completed a detailed (paper) questionnaire, which included questions on basic demographics, health status, location of catch and species of fish caught/eaten, consumption of locally caught and commercially purchased fish, and awareness and source of information for local and statewide consumption guidelines. Biological samples were used to assess levels of PCBs, PBDEs, PFCs (blood), and mercury (hair and blood). Quantile regression analysis was used to investigate the associations between biomarker levels and self-reported consumption of fish from the Great Lakes and other areas of concern, other locally caught fish, and commercially purchased fish (meals per year). Respondents had a median age of 60.5 (interquartile range: 56, 67) years. The median fish consumption was 54.5 meals per year, with most fish meals coming from locally-caught fish. Participants had somewhat higher mercury levels compared with the US general population, while levels of other contaminants were similar or lower. Multivariate regression models showed that consumption of fish from the Great Lakes and areas of concern was associated with higher levels of each of the contaminants with the exception of PBDEs, as was consumption of locally caught fish from other water bodies. All commercial fish consumption was also associated with both hair and blood mercury. When looking at specific PCB, PBDE and PFC analytes, consumption of fish from the Great Lakes and areas of concern was associated with higher levels of each of the individual PCB congeners examined, as well as higher levels of all of the PFCs examined, with the exception of PFHxS. Among the PFCs, locally caught fish from other water bodies was also associated with higher levels of each of the congeners examined except PFHxS. Finally, all commercial fish was associated with higher levels of PFHxS.

Modulators of mercury risk to wildlife and humans in the context of rapid global change

“…Exposure biomarkers (e.g., blood, hair, or urine Hg concentrations) are important tools for monitoring and estimating Hg exposure in human populations. However, discrepancies exist in the relationships between actual exposure as measured through dietary intake or inhalation estimates and realized exposure as measured through biomarkers (Christensen et al 2016 ; Awata et al 2017 ; Branco et al 2017 ), suggesting that there are other drivers that modify the pathway from actual to realized Hg exposure. Over the past decade research has shown that genetic and epigenetic factors may influence realized Hg exposure (reviewed by Basu et al 2014 ; Llop et al 2015 ).…”

Biomonitoring programs in Michigan, Minnesota and New York to assess human exposure to Great Lakes contaminants

“…In 2012–2013, the Wisconsin Departments of Health Services conducted a biomonitoring study of male anglers aged 50 years and older. Participants (n = 154) had somewhat higher blood mercury levels compared with the U.S. general population, and the consumption of fish from the Great Lakes area was associated with higher levels of blood mercury, PCBs and PFAS (Christensen et al, 2016a, 2016b).…”

“…Vulnerable populations include women of childbearing age, pregnant women, fetuses, nursing infants, children, the elderly, certain ethnic groups, and anglers (Johnson et al, 1998). Urban communities living in or near contaminated watersheds and indigenous communities that live off the land in the Great Lakes basin are at risk of high exposure through eating locally caught fish, aquatic plants, and wildlife (Fitzgerald et al, 2004; Schaeffer et al, 2006; Turyk et al, 2006; Knobeloch et al, 2009; Christensen et al, 2016a).…”

Environmental exposures during pregnancy: Mechanistic effects on immunity

“…Although the production of PCBs has been banned globally for decades, PCB concentrations remain relatively high in the environment, especially in urban areas, and unintentional production still occurs in the cement and steel industry (Song et al, ). Due to their persistence and wide spread in the environment, mercury, PCBs, and PFASs often accumulate in organisms such as fish and farm animals (Christensen et al, ; Weber et al, ). Well‐known cohort studies in the Faroe Islands have associated autoantibodies with prenatal and childhood exposure to environmental chemicals such as methylmercury, PCBs, and PFASs in Faroese children (Osuna, Grandjean, Weihe, & El‐Fawal, ).…”