Fish and shellfish consumption estimates and perceptions of risk in a cohort of occupational and recreational fishers of the Chesapeake Bay.

Exposure to persistent, bioaccumulating substances, through the consumption of contaminated fish is of concern in human populations. Consumption may be particularly high for subsistence, commercial, and recreational fishers, so it is important to obtain accurate consumption estimates to assess risks in these groups. The objectives of the work reported here were: to obtain estimates of fish and shellfish consumption (meals and portion size) in an occupational cohort; to determine what percentage of the consumption was from local fish; to evaluate reliability of two methods of reporting fish and shellfish consumption; and to examine risk perceptions in relation to consumption.