title: A uniform fish consumption advisory protocol for the Ohio River.
abstract: ORSANCO and the six Ohio River main stem states have been working to align states' fish consumption advisories (FCAs) to enhance the value of advice issued to the public. To achieve this goal, ORSANCO worked closely with a panel consisting of state and USEPA representatives. The result of this effort is the Ohio River Fish Consumption Advisory Protocol (ORFCAP). The ORFCAP represents a single set of variables agreed upon by the panel that allows for a standardized protocol to create advisory thresholds to which states can defer to issue consumption advice for the Ohio River. The ORFCAP identifies ORSANCO as a clearinghouse for data which will be distributed to the panel for decision making. Other components include identifying primary contaminants of concern (PCBs and mercury) and dividing the river into four reporting units. The protocol was developed to issue FCAs for the protection of sensitive populations using five advisory groupings for PCBs and four for mercury. Specific variables used in the calculation of advisory thresholds such as health protection values, cooking reductions, average meal sizes, etc., were selected by the panel. Lastly, the protocol calls for FCA decisions to be based on analysis of the most recent 10 years of data for each species in each reporting unit to determine size class needs and advisory groupings. Upon pending implementation of the protocol by the main stem states, these decisions will be made annually through a series of discussions involving ORSANCO, the panel, and other appropriate state personnel.
authors.affiliation: Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), Cincinnati, OH, 45230, USA. jthomas@orsanco.org
authors.forename: Jeff A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Lanetta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barron
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borsuk
authors.forename: C Lee
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bridges
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eisiminger
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hornshaw
authors.forename: Mylynda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shaskus
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smithson
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Toomey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003254:Consumer Advocacy; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058735:Environmental Policy; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008628:Mercury / Q000378:metabolism; D009820:Ohio; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism; D018570:Risk Assessment; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D008628:Mercury