Methylmercury risk awareness, fish consumption, and actual exposure of childbearing age women: A reservation-based community-academic partnership

Background: Actual exposure to methylmercury, awareness of fish advisory messages, and risk communication preferences in American Indian women of childbearing age is unknown for populations living on reservations near inland Northwest waterways. The primary aims of this study were to develop a community-academic partnership and gather and analyze fish consumption, risk awareness, and actual exposure data. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study utilized a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach by engaging community members including a group of tribal elders who contributed a historical/cultural perspective to the research. Childbearing age women (n=200) were recruited to the study. An electronic consumption and awareness survey was administered and hair samples were examined for total mercury using a Direct Mercury Analyzer and EPA method 7473. Results: Among the participants, over half (59%) reported they ate just one fish meal per month, 34% reported 2-4 fish meals, and 7% reported 5-8 meals per month. Of the group, 78% were unaware of tribal advisories or fish consumption guidelines. Most of the women (83%) rated their knowledge of mercury contamination of fish as “very little” or “none.” In contrast, 73% were also unaware of the USDA healthy fish intake guidelines. Hair sample results (190/200 surveyed) indicate low level total mercury exposure ranging from <0.0001 to 0.2502 ppm (action level for MeHg is 1 ppm or 1µg/g). Conclusions: Methylmercury exposure was not detected; advisory and healthy fish consumption guideline awareness is low among American Indian women living on this inland reservation.