National Guidance

Guidance for Assessing Chemical Contaminant Data for Use In Fish Advisories

Volume 1: Fish Sampling and Analysis - Third Edition

You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.

Figures
Acknowledgements
Acronyms

Download...

Cover Page (PDF, 92 K)
Table of Contents (PDF, 42 K)
Executive Summary (PDF, 19 K)

1. Introduction (PDF, 311 K)
1.1 Historical Perspective
1.2 Purpose
1.3 Objectives
1.4 Relationship of Manual to Other Guidance Documents
1.5 Organization of this Manual

2. Monitoring Strategy (PDF, 412 K)
2.1 Screening Studies (Tier 1)
2.2 Intensive Studies (Tier 2)

3. Target Species (PDF, 352 K)
3.1 Purpose of Using Target Species
3.2 Criteria for Selecting Target Species
3.3 Freshwater Target Species

3.3.1 Target Finfish Species
3.3.2 Target Turtle Species
3.4 Estuarine/Marine Target Species
3.4.1Target Shellfish Species
3.4.2 Target Finfish Species

4.Target Analytes (PDF, 603 K)
4.1 Recommended Target Analytes
4.2 Selection of Target Analytes
4.3 Target Analyte Profiles

4.3.1Metals
4.3.2 Organochlorine Pesticides
4.3.3 Organophosphate Pesticides
4.3.4 Chlorophenoxy Herbicides
4.3.5 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
4.3.6 Polychlorinated Biphenyls (Total)
4.3.7 Dioxins and Dibenzofurans
4.4 Target Analytes under Evaluation
4.4.1 Lead

5. Screening Values for Target Analytes (PDF, 94 K)
5.1 General Equations for Calculating Screening Values

5.1.1 Noncarcinogens
5.1.2 Carcinogens
5.1.3 Recommended Values for Variables in Screening Value Equations
5.2 Recommended Screening Values for Target Analytes
5.3 Comparison of Target Analyte Concentrations with Screening Values
5.3.1 Metals
5.3.2 Organics

6. Field Procedures (PDF, 964 K)
6.1 Sampling Design

6.1.1 Screening Studies (Tier 1)
6.1.2 Intensive Studies (Tier 2)
6.2 Sample Collection
6.2.1 Sampling Equipment and Use
6.2.2 Preservation of Sample Integrity
6.2.3 Field Recordkeeping
6.3 Sample Handling
6.3.1 Sample Selection
6.3.2 Sample Packaging
6.3.3 Sample Preservation
6.3.4 Sample Shipping

7. Laboratory Procedures I Sample Handling (PDF, 251 K)
7.1 Sample Receipt and Chain-of-Custody
7.2 Sample Processing

7.2.1 General Considerations
7.2.2 Processing Fish Samples
7.2.3 Processing Turtle Samples
7.2.4 Processing Shellfish Samples
7.3 Sample Distribution
7.3.1 Preparing Sample Aliquots
7.3.2 Sample Transfer

8..Laboratory Procedures II Sample Analyses (PDF, 169 K)
8.1 Recommended Analytes

8.1.1 Target Analytes
8.1.2 Lipid
8.2 Analytical Methods
8.2.1 Lipid Method
8.2.2 Target Analyte Methods
8.3 Quality Assurance and Quality Control Considerations
8.3.1 QA Plans
8.3.2 Method Documentation
8.3.3 Minimum QA and QC Requirements for Sample Analyses
8.4 Documentation and Reporting of Data
8.4.1 Analytical Data Reports
8.4.2 Summary Reports

9. Data Analysis and Reporting (PDF, 33 K)
9.1 Data Analysis

9.1.1 Screening Studies
9.1.2 Intensive Studies
9.2 Data Reporting
9.2.1 State Data Reports
9.2.2 Reports to the National Fish Tissue Data Repository

10. Literature Cited (PDF, 131 K)

Appendix

A—1993 Fish Contaminant Workgroup (PDF, 7 K)
B—Screening Values for Defining Green Areas (PDF, 26 K)
C—Use of Individual Samples in Fish Contaminant Monitoring Programs (PDF, 42 K)
D—Fish and Shellfish Species for which State Consumption Advisories Have Been Issued (PDF, 21 K)
E—Target Analytes Analyzed in National or Regional Monitoring Programs (PDF, 83 K)
F—Pesticides and Herbicides Recommended as Target Analytes (PDF, 28 K)
G—Target Analyte Dose-Response Variables and Associated Information (PDF, 26 K)
H—A Recommended Method for Inorganic Arsenic Analysis (PDF, 561 K)
I—Quality Assurance and Quality Control Guidance (PDF, 13 K)
J—Recommended Procedures for Preparing Whole Fish Composite Homogenate Samples (PDF, 54 K)
K—General Procedures for Removing Edible Tissues from Freshwater Turtles (PDF, 80 K)
L—General Procedures for Removing Edible Tissues from Shellfish (PDF, 368 K)
M—M. Sources of Reference Materials and Standards (PDF, 23 K)
N—Statistical Methods for Comparing Samples: Spatial and Temporal Considerations (PDF, 58 K)

LIST OF FIGURES

1-1—Total number of fish advisories in effect in each state in 1998 (change from 1997)
1-2—Trends in number of advisories issued for various pollutants
1-3—Series summary: Guidance for assessing chemical contamination data for use in fish advisories
2-1—Recommended strategy for State fish and shellfish contaminant monitoring programs
3-1—Geographic range of the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina
3-2—Geographic distributions of three bivalve species used extensively in national contaminant monitoring programs
4-1—States issuing fish and shellfish advisories for mercury
4-2—States issuing fish and shellfish advisories for chlordane
4-3—States issuing fish and shellfish advisories for PCBs
4-4—States issuing fish and shellfish advisories for dioxin/furans
5-1—Recommended Values for Mean Body Weights (Bws) and Fish Consumption Rates (CRs) for Selected Subpopulations
5-2—Fish Consumption Rates for Various Fisher Populations
5-3—Dose-Response Variables and Recommended Screening Values (SVs) for Target Analytes - Recreational Fishers
5-4—Dose-Response Variables and Recommended Screening Values (SVs) for Target Analytes - Subsistence Fishers
5-5—Example Screening Values (SVs) for Various Target Populations and Risk Levels (RLs)
5-6—Toxicity Equivalency Factors for Various PAHs
5-7—Toxicity Equivalency Factors (TEFs) for Tetra-through Octa-Chlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins and Dibenzofurans and Dioxin-Like PCBs
6-1—Example of a sample request form
6-2—U.S. fish and wildlife service regions
6-3—Example of a field record for fish contaminant monitoring program--screening study
6-4—Example of a field record for shellfish contaminant monitoring progra m-- screening study
6-5—Example of a field record for fish contaminant monitoring program-- intensive study
6-6—Example of a field record for shellfish contaminant monitoring program -- intensive study
6-7—Example of a sample identification label
6-8—Example of a chain-of-custody tag or label
6-9—Example of a chain-of-custody record form
6-10—Recommended measurements of body length and size for fish, shellfish, and turtles
7-1—Preparation of fish fillet composite homogenate samples
7-2—Sample processing record for fish contaminant monitoring program -- fish fillet composites
7-3—Illustration of basic fish filleting procedure
7-4—Preparation of individual turtle homogenate samples
7-5—Sample processing record for a contaminant monitoring progra m -- individual turtle samples
7-6—Illustration of basic turtle resection procedure
7-7—Preparation of shellfish edible tissue composite homogenate samples
7-8—Sample processing record for shellfish contaminant monitoring program - edible tissue composites
7-9—Example of a fish and shellfish monitoring program sample aliquot record
7-10—Example of a fish and shellfish monitoring program sample transfer record
8-1—Recommended contents of analytical standard operating procedures (SOPs)
9-1—Recommended data reporting requirements for screening and intensive studies
9-2—Key information fields for the National Fish Tissue Residue Data Repository

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This report was prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Fish and Wildlife Contamination Program. The EPA Project Manager for this document was Jeffrey Bigler who provided overall project coordination as well as technical direction. EPA was supported in the development of this document by the Research Triangle Institute (RTI) (EPA Contract Number 68-C7-0056). Pat Cunningham of RTI was the contractor's Project Manager. Preparation of the First Edition of this guidance in 1993 was facilitated by the substantial efforts of the numerous Workgroup members and reviewers listed in Appendix A.

ACRONYMS

AFS —American Fisheries Society
ANOVA —Analysis of Variance
ATSDR —Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
BCF —bioconcentration factor
BW —body weight
CDD—chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
CDF—chlorodibenzofuran
CERCLA—Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
CLP—Contract Laboratory Program
COC—chain-of-custody
CR—consumption rate
CRM—certified reference material
CRADAs—Cooperative Research and Development Agreements
CSF—cancer slope factor
CSFII—Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Indivdiuals
CSOs—combined sewer overflows
CV—coefficient of variation
CVAAS—cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry
DFTPP—decafluorotriphenylphosphine
DOT—U.S. Department of Transportation
EMAP—Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program
EMAP-NC—Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Progra m-- Near Coastal
EPA—U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EMMI—Environmental Monitoring Methods Index System
FDA—U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FWS—U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
¡-BHC—benzene hexachloride
¡-HCH—hexachlorocyclohexane
GC/ECD —gas chromatography/electron capture detection
GC/FID—gas chromatography/flame ionization detection
GC/FPD—gas chromatography/flame photometric detection
GC/NPD—gas chromatography/nitrogen-phosphorus detection
GC/MS—gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
GFAA—graphic furnace atomic absorption spectrometry
GLIFWC—Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission
GPS—Global Positioning System
HAA—hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry
HEAST—Health Effects Assessment Summary Tables
HPLC/MS—high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry
HRGC/LRMS—high-resolution gas chromography/low-resolution mass spectrometry
HRGC/HRMS—high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry
ICP—inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry
IDL—instrument detection limit
IRIS—Integrated Risk Information System
IUPAC—Information Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
LAN—local area network
LLD—lower limits of detection
LOAEL—lowest observed adverse effects level
LOD—limit of detection
LOQ—limit of quantitation
MDL—method detection limit
MQL—method quantitation limit
NAS—National Academy of Sciences
NERRS—National Estuarine Research Research System
NCBP—National Contaminant Biomonitoring Program
NCR—no-carbon-required
ND—not detected
NEP—National Estuary Program
NFTDR—National Fish Tissue Data Repository
NIST—National Institute of Standards and Technology
NLFWA—National Listing of Residue Fish and Wildlife Advisors
NOAA—National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOAEL—no observed adverse effects level
NRCC—National Research Council of Canada
NS&T—National States and Trends Program
NSCRFN—National Study of Chemical Residues in Fish
NTIS—National Technical Information Service
OAPCA—Organotin Antifouling Paint Control Act
OAQPS—Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards
OCDD—octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
OCDF—octachlorodibenzofuran
ODES—Ocean Discharge Evaluation System
ODW—Office of Drinking Water
OHEA—Office of Health and Environmental Assessment
OPP—Office of Pesticide Programs
ORSANCO—Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission
PAB—Population Adjusted Dose
PAHs—polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
PBBs—polybrominated biphenyls
PCBs—polychlorinated biphenyls
PCDDs—polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins
PCDFs—polychlorinated dibenzofurans
PEC—potency equivalency concentration
PNAs—polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons
PQL—practical quantitation limit
PTFE—polytetrafluoroethylene
QA—quality assurance
QC—quality control
RCRA—Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
RDL—reliable detection limit
RFs—response factors
RfD—reference dose
RL— risk level
RPs— relative potencies
RPD— relative percent difference
RRFs— relative response factors
RSD —relative standard deviation
SOPs —standard operating procedures
SRMs standard—reference materials
SVs —screening values
2,4,5-T—2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid
2,3,7,8-TCDD—2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
2,3,7,8-TCDF—2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran
2,4,5-T—2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid
2,4,5-TCP—2,4,5-trichlorophenol
TEFs—toxicity equivalency factor
TEQs —toxicity equivalency concentrations
TVA—Tennessee Valley Authority
UF—uncertainty factor
UM—modifying factor
USDA—U.S. Department of Agriculture
USGS—U.S. Geological Survey
USFWS—U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
WHO—World Health Organization

Top of Page