Sources of Information 



References to protocols for sampling and analysis of toxic chemical 

 residues in fish and shellfish are provided above (see Measurement of 

 Contaminants). For the updated status of protocols and new develop- 

 ments, contact a representative of the EPA Office of Water (Appendix 

 A) or one of the EPA Office of Research and Development 

 Laboratories (Appendix G). Information on sampling and analysis of 

 commercial fisheries products collected from the marketplace is avail- 

 able in FDA Compliance Program Guidance Manuals (available from 

 FDA, Freedom of Information (HFI-35), 5600 Fishers Lane, Rock- 

 ville, MD 20857). 



Compilations of data on concentrations of chemical contaminants in 

 fish and shellfish are available in the EPA Ocean Data Evaluation 

 System (ODES), reports of the NOAA Status and Trends Program 

 (e.g., Matta et al. 1986), Tetra Tech (1985b), and Capuzzo et al. (1987). 

 For current local information, contact a member of the EPA Regional 

 Network for Risk Assessment/Risk Management Issues (Appendix H). 

 Many state health and environmental agencies maintain regional 

 databases on chemical residues in fish and shellfish. For example, the 

 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the 

 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection publish periodic 

 reports on contaminants levels in fish (e.g., Armstrong and Sloan 1980; 

 Belton et al. 1986; Sloan and Horn 1986). The Wisconsin Department 

 of Natural Resources (Bureau of Water Quality) maintains com- 

 puterized records of long-term data on PCS concentrations in fish of 

 the Great Lakes. 



Summaries of data on contaminant concentrations in a variety of foods 

 are available in Grasso and O'Hare (1976), Lo and Sandi (1978), Stich 

 (1982), U.S. FDA (1982), and Vaessen et al. (1984). FDA is developing 

 a data system called FOODCONTAM for pesticide and industrial 

 contaminant residues in foods. 



References containing estimates of the rates of consumption of fish 

 and shellfish by the U.S. population were presented above (see As- 

 sumed Consumption Rate). The EPA Office of Pesticide Programs 

 maintains the Tolerance Assessment System (Saunders and Petersen 

 1987). The Tolerance Assessment System uses a USDA database 

 (based on a 1977-1978 survey) to generate estimates of consumption 

 of various foods stratified by specific subpopulations (e.g., infants, 

 children, and adults in the northeastern U.S.). The Office of Pesticide 

 Programs is also developing information on the effects of food prepara- 

 tion methods on chemical residues in food. 



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