Developing Safe Eating Guidelines for the Central Valley

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Developing Safe Eating Guidelines for the Central
Valley
FMP 2007 Annual Meeting June 6, 2007 Sacramento,
California
Margy Gassel, Ph.D. Susan A. Klasing,
Ph.D. Robert K. Brodberg, Ph.D. Sue Roberts,
M.S. Office of Environmental Health Hazard
Assessment California Environmental Protection
Agency
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OEHHAs FMP Activities

• Task 1 3 Monitoring design to characterize
  water bodies to support developing advisories.
  Formulate monitoring plans for sport fish.
• Task 7 Assess risks in water bodies using
  existing data or project data and develop fish
  consumption advisories.
• Task 8 Communicate risks and safe eating
  guidelines using advisories and associated
  materials.

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2006-2007 ActivitiesMonitoring

• Developed 2006 sampling matrix and sampling plan
  for advisory development
• Sacramento River, tributaries, North Delta
• Lake Shasta and other northern reservoirs
• Striped bass, shad, sturgeon
• Interactive coordination with DFG during sampling
• DFG reported collections on a regular basis
• OEHHA feedback
• OEHHA created analysis instructions

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2006-2007 ActivitiesMonitoring - continued

• Considered revising spreadsheet format
• Consistent and user-friendly files
• DHS reported results for collection of fishing
  site, activity and species data for 2007 in
  consistent format (one site per row)
• DFG revised format for collection results to
  include sample weights and show distinct samples
  (one fish per row)

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2006-2007 ActivitiesHealth Assessment

• Developed Draft Safe Eating Guidelines
• Lower Feather River released in August 2006
• San Joaquin River and South Delta released in
  March 2007
• Developing a risk/benefit paradigm for fish
  advisories
• Data review for 2007
• Sacramento River and North Delta

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2006 ActivitiesCommunication

• Coordinated with DHS for public workshops and
  training for new advisories
• Lower Feather River public workshopat tribal
  health center
• DHS translated fact sheet into Spanish
• San Joaquin River and South Delta public workshop
  at LSAG meeting
• DHS translated advice into Hmong andSpanish

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2006 ActivitiesCommunication - continued

• Continued coordination with DHS on Delta outreach
  plans materials
• updated Delta sign
• Incorporated more emphasis on health benefits and
  safe fish for San Joaquin River and South Delta
  advisories

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Susan Klasing, Ph.D. Margy Gassel, Ph.D. Sue
Roberts, M.S. Robert Brodberg, Ph.D.

Acknowledgements Michelle Wood CVRWCB Jay
Davis, Ben Greenfield SFEI Jason May, Charles
Alpers,James Rytuba, Darell Slotton USGS Peter
Otis RWQCB Thomas Suchanek USFWS
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Background

• Review of historical data revealed high mercury
  concentrations in fish from the Cosumnes River
  and the Feather River
• OEHHA prioritized these two areas for next
  advisories
• Additional sampling planned in FMP
• Draft Safe Eating Guidelines for the Lower
  Cosumnes and Lower Mokelumne Rivers issued
  April 2006
• Draft Safe Eating Guidelines for the Lower
  Feather River issued August 2006

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SAFE EATING GUIDELINESFOR FISH CONSUMPTION
FROMTHE LOWER FEATHER RIVER
Women of childbearing age, pregnant or
breastfeeding women, and children 17 years and
under
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SAFE EATING GUIDELINESFOR FISH CONSUMPTION
FROMTHE LOWER FEATHER RIVER

• Women beyond childbearing age and men

Sunfish may be eaten up to 3 times a week by
this population
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Review of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and the Health
Benefits ofFish Consumption
Susan Klasing

• Comprehensive review of literature
• state of knowledge on physiological action
  ofomega-3 fatty acids
• Reviewed Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report
• Presentation to LSAG January 24, 2006
• Developing risk/benefit paradigm for fish
  advisories

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Why Important

• American Heart Association (AHA) recommends 6
  ounces cooked fish a week (24 g/day)
• Average U.S. fish consumption is14 g/day (NHANES
  1999-2002)
• The average U.S. population intake of EPA DHA
  is 103 mg/day (¼ the recommended intake)
• Reconcile differences between entities providing
  fish consumption guidelines

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(Adapted from Mozaffarian and Rimm, 2006)
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American Heart Association Recommendations
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Other Recommendations toEncourage Seafood
Consumption

• Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report
• Two servings (approximately eight ounces) per
  week of fish high in omega-3 fatty acids
• My Pyramid
• Eat fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as
  salmon, trout, and herring, more often
• American Diabetes Association
• Eat 2-3 servings of fish per week to lower the
  risk of diabetes and protect your heart and blood
  vessels
• World Health Organization
• Eat fish 1-2 servings per week (equivalent to
  200-500 mg of EPADHA/serving) to protect against
  heart disease and stroke
• United Kingdom Scientific Advisory Committee on
  Nutrition
• Eat two servings of fish per week, one of which
  should be oily, to provide approximately 450
  mg/day of EPADHA

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IOM Report Conclusions

• Purpose was to analyze overall effect of seafood
  consumption not just to reduce a specific risk
  or enhancea specific benefit
• Lack of information on the benefits of seafood
  consumption
• Lack of reach of state advisories

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IOMImpact of State Advisories

• Awareness of advisories is low
• Awareness higher among males than females
• Risk information as presented in advisories
  appears to increase reluctance to consume seafood

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IOMImpact of State Advisories

• Evidence that risk-risk information may
  influence risk perceptions more than
  benefit-risk information
• Warnings can change perceptions and beliefs but
  unintended effects, such as overreactions, may
  occur

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IOMBalancing ChoicesSupporting Consumer
Seafood Consumption Decisions

• Advice to consumers from the federal government
  and private organizations on seafood choices to
  promote human health is fragmented
• Risks are addressed separately from benefits
• Portion sizes differ
• Multiple pieces of guidance sometimes
  conflicting simultaneously exist

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New Risk/Benefit Paradigm

• Addresses consumers desire to delineate good
  fish/bad fish
• Attempts to increase benefits while maintaining
  acceptable risk
• Aims for consistency in advice with the nutrition
  and medical communities
• Aims to support public health

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Margy Gassel, Ph.D. Robert K. Brodberg,
Ph.D. Susan Klasing, Ph.D. Sue Roberts, M.S.
Acknowledgements Michelle Wood CVRWCB Darell
Slotton, Shaun Ayers UCD Aroon Melwani, Shira
Bezalel, Letitia Grenier SFEI Alyce Ujihara,
Elana Silver, Jessica Kaslow DHS
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Available Data

• FMP Year 1
• 25 sampling locations 10 species 775 samples
• Historical data large mercury dataset compiled
  by CVRWQCB
• TSMP/SWAMP CALFED Mercury ProjectUC Davis
• Chlorinated hydrocarbons (limited)
• PCBs TSMP (1998 or 2000) SFEI(Sac-SJ Delta
  and Lower SJ River study, 1998)
• Dioxins/furans DHS (ATSDR)

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Study Area San Joaquin River and South Delta
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San Joaquin River Sampling Sites
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South Delta Sampling Sites
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Data Evaluation

• Site-specific
• Site groupings
• Delta subareas

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Comparisons of Average Mercury Concentrations
Between Sites
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Comparisons of Average Mercury Concentrations
Between Subareas

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Comparison of Subregions
Hypothetical 350-mm Largemouth Bass
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Comparison of SubregionsMultiple Regression
Correlation Largemouth Bass

• Length explained 59 of variance(p lt 0.001)
• After controlling for length, subregion explained
  12 unique variance(p lt 0.001)
• N.S. Interaction factor

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Comparison of SubregionsMultiple Regression
Correlation Catfish

• White catfish
• Length explained 26 of variance (p lt 0.001)
• After controlling for length, subregion explained
  26 unique variance (p lt 0.001)
• N.S. Interaction factor
• Channel catfish
• Length explained 16 of variance (p lt 0.001)
• After controlling for length, subregion explained
  21 unique variance (p lt 0.001)
• N.S. Interaction factor

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Draft Advisories for Two Regions
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Green Guidelines

• Apply when at least 8 ounces can be eaten each
  week, as recommended for healthy adults by the
  American Heart Association
• Previous advisories considered one meal a week
  (8 ounces) as yellow Eat in Moderation
• Consistent with AHA recommendation to eat two
  3-oz. servings a week

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Green Guidelines

• San Joaquin River
• All sampled species, except largemouth bass and
  striped bass
• South Delta
• All species sampled had low mercury
  concentrations
• Excludes striped bass and sturgeon
• Special studies underway
• Follow the guidelines for theSan Francisco
  Bay-Delta advisory
• DHS updated Delta sign accordingly

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SIMPLIFY ADVICE
BEST CHOICES
4 6 servings a week
GOOD CHOICES
2 servings a week
0 4 servings a month
AVOID
Serving size is 3 oz. cooked fish
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Previous Categories
ENJOY
2 3 meals a week
EAT IN MODERATION
1 meal a week
0 2 meals a month
AVOID
Meal size is 6 oz. cooked fish (8 oz. before
cooking)
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SAFE EATING GUIDELINES South Delta
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SAFE EATING GUIDELINES San Joaquin River
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Warnings for thePort of Stockton Area
Old Mormon SloughNew Mormon Slough McLeod
LakeThe Turning BasinMorelli Boat Ramp Lewis
Park Boat Ramp
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Health Benefits from Fish Consumption

• Fish provide a good source of protein and other
  essential nutrients
• Risk from other animal sources of protein (beef,
  pork)
• Risk from NOT eating fish
• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Women and young children cognition,
  neurological development, vision
• For the prevention of heart disease

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IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER

• Eating fish has manyhealth benefits
  recommendedas part of a healthy diet!
• Make informed choicesabout which fish aresafest
  to eat and providethe most benefit
• Consider all sources of fish
• Stores and restaurants
• Fish caught in other water bodies
• Serving size changed to matchdietary guidelines

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Disseminating the Advisories Education and
Outreach

• OEHHA and DHS met with county Environmental and
  Public Health Directors Officers before release
  
• Held workshop on draft advisories in conjunction
  with LSAG meeting 3/20/07
• Open to county and agency staff, CBOs, and the
  general public
• Evaluation forms

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Stakeholder Feedback

• Draft advisories
• Advisory format in flux
• Evaluation forms
• Comprehension
• Importance of benefits information
• Need more!

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Stakeholder Feedback
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Stakeholder Responses and Comments

• Half of responses noted one or more factors in
  advisories (e.g., location, population, type of
  fish)
• Suggestions (e.g., clarify healthy fish choices
  from all sources)
• Opposing views reflected (e.g., overly
  conservative versus not protective enough)
• Serving size does not match consumption

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2006 Special Studies

• Striped bass
• 100 legal-sized fish
• 60 from year-round locations
• Otolith analysis
• Sturgeon
• Collected in conjunction with DFG fishery surveys
  and/or sturgeon derbies to be less destructive
• 10 fish collected at fish derby from 5 locations
• Shad
• DFG collected 7 from Sacramento River, 10 from
  American River, 10 from Feather River, 23 from
  Fremont Weir

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Continued 2007 Activities

• Monitoring Coordinated and developed sampling
  matrix for 2007 advisory sampling sites
• San Joaquin River tributaries southern
  tributary reservoirs
• Other southern reservoirs other water bodies
• Assess Develop Draft Safe Eating Guidelines for
  the Sacramento River and North Delta
• Communicate Coordinate with DHS on education
  and outreach evaluation, testing messages

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2007 and Beyond FMP

• Regional assessments
• Evaluate striped bass and other anadromous
  species data
• Respond to requests from Native American tribes
  to evaluate fish e.g., Upper Feather River and
  creeks
• Incorporate results of analysis of organics
• Continue re-evaluation of draft advisories,
  including linking Central Valley/Delta advice
• Evaluate data for reservoirs

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Questions, Comments, Discussion
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