BACKGROUND: South Carolina (SC) is a coastal state with numerous inland bodies of water. While there are noted health benefits from regular consumption of fish, eating recreational fish caught in SC may pose a risk for mercury (Hg) exposure. In SC, higher Hg concentrations are associated with specific locations of the state, specific water bodies, and higher tropic level fish due to bioaccumulation.
METHODS: In order to characterize recreational fish consumption in SC adults, data from the 2011 and 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were examined (n=25,743). These survey years included questions about recreational fish consumption, including frequency, type of fish, and where the fish was caught (both water body type and region within SC). Survey analysis procedures were used to examine demographic differences (e.g., sex, age, and race/ethnicity) in these recreational fish consumption outcomes.
RESULTS: Approximately 33% of respondents reported consuming recreational fish within the last year, with males reporting higher consumption frequency than females (p<0.0001). While there were no significant differences in frequency of consumption by race/ethnicity, non-Hispanic blacks were more likely to report eating fish from freshwater rivers/creeks than non-Hispanic whites (p<0.0001). Non-Hispanic blacks were also more likely to report fishing in the coastal counties of SC, but not the open ocean (p<0.0001). Since Hg concentrations can be highest in these water bodies in coastal locations of SC, this disparity is of note.
CONCLUSIONS: While fish consumption is associated with better health outcomes, populations consuming fish that can bioaccumulate Hg from locations in SC with higher Hg concentrations may be putting themselves at increased risk for Hg exposure, and any associated health effects. Further studies should pinpoint fishing locations, and examine Hg concentrations in higher trophic level fish from those locations to better characterize risk for Hg exposure in populations consuming recreational fish from SC.