title: Fish consumption and advisory awareness among the Philadelphia Asian community: a pilot study.
abstract: Difficulties in the risk communication of fish consumption arise from the concept that this consumption can have both harmful and beneficial effects. This is particularly an issue among populations for which seafood is a major dietary and cultural component. Fish advisories are an important tool in preventing overconsumption of fish that have elevated concentrations of toxic contaminants. The exploratory pilot study described in this article examined fish consumption patterns and knowledge of the potential health risks associated with overconsumption of mercury-contaminated fish within a limited (N = 34) sample of the Philadelphia Asian-American population. Study data were used to evaluate the efficacy of state-issued advisories designed to encourage safe levels of fish consumption within the study population. Results indicate that while advisory awareness levels among study participants were greater than previously observed in Asian-American populations, consumption levels remained high. The limited findings of the authors' study, in combination with existing evidence, suggest the need for the development of more effective methods of disseminating advisory information.
authors.affiliation: Drexel University School of Public Health, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Philadelphia, PA 19012, USA. hrp22@drexel.edu
authors.forename: Hernando
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: Erin C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: Reginald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination; D033181:Information Dissemination; D008297:Male; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015143:Philadelphia / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017747:Seafood; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires