Time trends in sport-caught Great Lakes fish consumption and serum polychlorinated biphenyl levels among Michigan Anglers, 1973-1993.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) remain public health concerns because of their persistence in the environment and their potential health impact. We linked data from three mixed cross-sectional/longitudinal surveys of Michigan anglers conducted by the Michigan Department of Public Health in 1973-1974, 1979-1982, and 1989-1993 to examine the association between sport-caught fish consumption and serum PCBs. The reported weight of fish consumed declined over the three surveys (median 40, 38, and 31 lb/yr). Serum Aroclor 1260 levels were 2-3 times higher in fish-eaters than in nonfish-eaters in all three surveys in both men and women. In nonfish-eaters, serum PCB levels rose between 1973-1974 and 1979-1982 [adjusted change = 0.30 log(ppb), p = 0.01] and then declined between 1979-1982 and 1989-1993 [adjusted change = -0.16 log(ppb), p = 0.002]. Among fish-eaters, serum PCB levels also rose between 1973-1974 and 1979-1982 [adjusted change = 0.45 log(ppb), p < 0.001] but were unchanged between 1979-1982 and 1989-1993 [adjusted change = -0.09 log(ppb), p = 0.14]. Predictors of serum PCB levels included annual fish consumption, gender, and age. We conclude that background human serum levels of Aroclor 1260 had declined by 1989-1993 from earlier peak levels. Among consumers of sport-caught Great Lake fish, serum PCB levels did not significantly decrease, probably due to continued exposure and the long half-life of PCB.
He
J P
JP
Department of Epidemiology and Institute for Environmental Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA. hejianp2@msu.edu
Stein
A D
AD
Humphrey
H E
HE
Paneth
N
N
Courval
J M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011998:Recreation
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls