269339 More than a fish fry: Enhancing fish consumption advisories and improving risk assessment for subsistence communities in Buffalo, New York

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Katy Brown , Environmental Justice and Public Health, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, Buffalo, NY
The Buffalo and Niagara Rivers have been impaired by more than a century of heavy industrial pollution. Their toxin-laden sediment resulted in the EPA designating the rivers as Areas of Concern in 1987 with significant impairments to fish consumption. Until remediation goals for rivers are met, risk avoidance strategies have been established and disseminated in the form of fish consumption advisories to reduce public exposure. However, these consumption advisories are insufficient for the growing number of families who subsist on locally caught fish. The consumption patterns of non-indigenous subsistence anglers and the secondary consumers with whom they share their catch are often underrepresented or systemically excluded from the conventional risk assessment paradigms informing environmental and public health protection efforts. With a grant from the USEPA, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper conducted a study of fish consumption patterns in urban and refugee fishing communities in Buffalo, New York. Study results will evaluate the accuracy of present risk estimates and inform public health officials regarding the undocumented subsistence behaviors of “hidden populations” that bear the disproportionate burden of contamination. Over 180 interviews were performed and initial results suggest that consumption among these underrepresented communities may raise issues of environmental justice. This data is also being used to collaboratively develop a community based public health campaign to address issues raised by this study. Traditional exposure reduction methods may not work in communities experiencing food insecurity. While remediation efforts are still underway, an affordable and sustainable alternative to supplement these fish must be developed.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Diversity and culture
Environmental health sciences

Learning Objectives:
Identify potentially underrepresented populations in your research or work. Evaluate how cultural, social, or economic factors may influence the public health perceptions of communities with which you work on a regular basis.

Keywords: Risk Assessment, Environmental Justice

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the project manager for three federally funded grants with Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper. I am the quality assurance officer for the Buffalo River Remediation Plan. I have developed two federally funded environmental testing strategies for bacteriological testing in impaired urban water bodies in Buffalo, New York.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.