title: Fish consumption patterns, knowledge and potential exposure to mercury by race.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Compared fish consumption patterns, fish advisory/benefit awareness and risk factors of consuming high-mercury (Hg) fish between Chinese and non-Chinese adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  301 Chinese and 120 non-Chinese participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants self-reported demographics, fish consumption behavior, and awareness of warnings/benefits of fish consumption.
  
  
  RESULTS
  non-Chinese (62.5%) ate more high-Hg fish than Chinese (35.9%) although more Chinese ate fish in the last year. Over 90% of both groups knew general benefits of consuming fish; fewer knew specific benefits. Chinese were less aware of fish warnings (49.8%) than non-Chinese (86.7%); knowledge did not appear to affect their fish consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were significant differences in fish consumption patterns and fish benefit/warning knowledge between the two groups. A higher proportion of non-Chinese reported consumption of high-Hg fish. Fish knowledge did not affect fish consumption behavior for either group. Public education efforts regarding fish consumption should emphasize details such as species and amounts.
authors.affiliation: a New York State Department of Health Center for Environmental Health , Albany , NY , USA .
authors.forename: Shao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Michele L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Herdt-Losavio
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Jianzhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Syni-An
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001213:Asian; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis; D009518:New York; D012307:Risk Factors; D017747:Seafood / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury
keywords: fish; methyl mercury; race