A survey methodology for collecting fish consumption data in urban and industrial water bodies (part 1).
The potential human health risks associated with consuming fish containing hazardous substances are related to the frequency, duration, and magnitude of exposure. Because these risk factors are often site specific, they require site-specific data. In anticipation of performing a risk assessment of the lower 6 miles of the Passaic River in New Jersey (Study Area), a year-long creel/angler survey collected such site-specific data. The lower Passaic River is urbanized and industrialized, and its site conditions present unique survey design and sampling challenges. For example, the combined population of the municipalities surrounding the Study Area is nearly 330,000, but because the Study Area is tidal, state law does not require fishing licenses for anglers to fish or crab in the Study Area. The sampling challenges posed by the lack of licensing are exacerbated by the industrialization and lack of public access in the lower half of the Study Area. This article presents a survey methodology designed to overcome these challenges to provide data for accurately estimating the Study Area's angling population and the fish and crabs they catch, keep, and eat. In addition to addressing the challenges posed by an urban and industrial setting, the survey methodology also addresses the issues of coverage, avidity, and deterrence, issues necessary for collecting a representative sample of the Study Area's anglers. This article is a companion to two other articles. The first companion article describes the analytical methodology designed to process the data collected during the survey. The second presents, validates, and interprets the survey results relating to human exposure factors for the lower Passaic River.
Kinnell
Jason C
JC
Veritas Economic Consulting, Cary, North Carolina 27513, USA. jkinnell@VeritasEconomics.com
Bingham
Matthew F
MF
Hastings
Elizabeth A
EA
Ray
Rose
R
Craven
Valerie
V
Freeman
Miranda
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination; D005523:Food Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey; D012107:Research Design; D018570:Risk Assessment; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012621:Seasons; D013997:Time Factors; D014507:Urbanization; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical