U. S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
FDA Prime Connection

FDA Evaluates EPA Chemical Residue Study
 
 
 
 
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FN92-12   FDA EVALUATES EPA CHEMICAL RESIDUE STUDY   11-20-92
 
 
     The Environmental Protection Agency has issued its National
Study of Chemical Residues in Fish -- a screening study primarily
designed to analyze fish collected from targeted areas near point
and non-point sources of pollution, where commercial fishing is
prohibited or limited.  Thus, as EPA has noted, this screening
study does not provide a basis for assessing the safety of
commercial seafood or shellfish.  All available scientific evidence
indicates that the vast preponderence of commercial seafood is safe
and does not contain hazardous levels of chemical contamination.
 
     The EPA study is a compilation of data on fish samples
collected between 1986 and 1989 at 388 locations, mainly near
heavily polluted areas such as Superfund sites and waterways
subject to intense industrial or agricultural runoff.  While the
study found contaminant levels in fish from most areas to be below
those considered hazardous, it did find excessive levels in fish at
46 sites.
 
     Although FDA has not yet thoroughly evaluated this study, its
results appear to be consistent with what one would expect to find
from fish located in heavily polluted areas that are off-limits to
commercial fishing.
 
     As EPA notes, fishing advisories and/or bans have been issued
at 41 of the 46 sites with excessive contamination.  Recent
monitoring at the five other sites shows enough improvement to make
advisories unnecessary.  Thus, it appears extremely unlikely that
consumers would come into contact with fish from these areas.  Fish
samples drawn for the study from background sites -- areas remote
from sources of pollution -- were found to be essentially free of
contaminants.
 
    FDA will continue to analyze this study and and work with EPA
to assess its significance.  In the meantime, FDA, the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and EPA will continue to
work with state and local authorities to maintain the safety and
wholesomeness of seafood products.
 
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