Relationship Between Fish Consumption and Serum Chlordane Levels

This study investigated the appropriateness of fish consumption advisories placed on Missouri rivers. The purpose of the advisories is to warn people about potential chlordane contamination. The advisories are based on the proportion of fish in a river area that are contaminated with more than 100 ppb of chlordane. Method: Persons consuming 1 pound per week of fish for 10 of 12 weeks from contaminated river areas provided serum samples and completed a questionnaire. Controls samples were obtained from non-fish eaters. Results: The study group had higher chlordane levels than did persons not consuming fish; however, persons consuming fish from areas with the largest proportion of contaminated fish did not have any higher serum chlordane levels than persons eating fish from areas with the smallest proportion of contaminated fish. Conclusion: Health advisories based upon fish sampling techniques do not reflect the risk of exposure to chlordane.