TY - JOUR
T1 - Consumption of Fish from Polluted Waters by WIC Participants in East Harlem
AU - Bienenfeld, Laura Anne
AU - Golden, Anne L.
AU - Garland, Elizabeth J.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by the Hudson River Foundation for Science and Environmental Research grant 007/99A, the National Institute of Environmental Health Science aware P42ES07384, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Science/Environmental Protection Agency award P01ES09584/R82703901.
PY - 2003/6
Y1 - 2003/6
N2 - To minimize exposure to neurotoxins such as mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and pesticide residues, the New York State Department of Health issues health advisories about consumption of certain fish and shellfish caught from polluted local waters. Fetal exposure causes cognitive developmental deficits in children. Consumption of fish was assessed. We surveyed 220 WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) participants. Of the participants, 10% ate fish and shellfish caught in local polluted waters. Statistically significant factors associated with eating local, noncommercial fish included male gender and knowledge of the health advisory. Locally caught fish and crabs are consumed; thus, in utero and childhood exposure to these neurotoxins occurs. Interventions to promote safer choices of fish are needed.
AB - To minimize exposure to neurotoxins such as mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and pesticide residues, the New York State Department of Health issues health advisories about consumption of certain fish and shellfish caught from polluted local waters. Fetal exposure causes cognitive developmental deficits in children. Consumption of fish was assessed. We surveyed 220 WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) participants. Of the participants, 10% ate fish and shellfish caught in local polluted waters. Statistically significant factors associated with eating local, noncommercial fish included male gender and knowledge of the health advisory. Locally caught fish and crabs are consumed; thus, in utero and childhood exposure to these neurotoxins occurs. Interventions to promote safer choices of fish are needed.
KW - Contaminants
KW - Dioxin
KW - Health advisory
KW - Neurotoxins
KW - Noncommercial
KW - Polychlorinated biphenyls
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0041476093&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/jurban/jtg036
DO - 10.1093/jurban/jtg036
M3 - Article
C2 - 12791809
AN - SCOPUS:0041476093
SN - 1099-3460
VL - 80
SP - 349
EP - 358
JO - Journal of Urban Health
JF - Journal of Urban Health
IS - 2
ER -