Environmental Bulletin
The MPCA’s Environmental Bulletin series is designed to highlight environmental outcomes and results of scientific studies the MPCA and its partners conduct in air, water and waste management. The abstract and a description of the study's methods, results, conclusions and references, are included in each issue of the bulletin.
Development of Fish Consumption Rates for Children, Environmental Bulletin, Issue Number 12, November 2009:
AbstractIn this issue, within the context of new Minnesota policies and programs aimed at enhancing protection for infants and children, we examine information on fish consumption patterns for children for use in developing Water Quality Standards (WQSs). Fish consumption is an important beneficial use of Minnesota’s lakes and streams. Currently WQSs are based on an adult recreational fish consumption rate of 30 g/day that for some pollutants, may not be sufficiently protective for children from age one through five. Fish consumption rates, adjusted for body weight, are highest for children in this age range and decline as they grow older. This indicates that WQSs may need to use a higher fish consumption rate to ensure protection to children at the youngest age they begin to eat adult food.
Four fish consumption surveys conducted from 1989-2000 were reviewed and compared to estimate an 80th percentile consumption rate for children ages one through five. Comparing child to adult consumption, adjusted for body weight, indicates that children in this range eat about twice as much fish as adults. Twice the established adult rate of 30 g/day or 0.43 g/kg-day on a per body-weight basis equals a consumption rate of 0.86 g/kg-day, or about 14 g/day (using a mean children’s body weight of 16.2 kg) of fish consumed for children ages one through five. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will include this rate to set human health-based standards that will enhance protection of the youngest children and children in families that eat fish often.
Archives
For more information or a hard copy of an Environmental Bulletin, contact any of the following MPCA staff of the Environmental and Information Reporting Unit:
- Patricia Engelking, 651-297-3847
- Tom Clark, 651-296-8580
- Paul Hoff, 651-296-7799
Blue-green Algal Toxin (Microcystin) Levels in Minnesota Lakes, Environmental Bulletin, Issue Number 11, July 2008:
Total Mercury and Methylmercury Flux in a Constructed Wetland for Stormwater Treatment, Environmental Bulletin, Issue Number 10, June 2008
AbstractA Comprehensive Assessment of Rivers and Streams in the Upper Mississippi River Basin Using a Random Site Selection Process, Environmental Bulletin, Issue Number 9, September 2007
Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Dry Mill Ethanol Production, Environmental Bulletin, Issue Number 8, August 2006
Minnesota Statewide Air Toxics Monitoring Study, Environmental Bulletin, Issue Number 7, November 2005
Comprehensive Assessment of Rivers and Streams in the St. Croix Basin Using a Random Site-Selection Process, Environmental Bulletin, Issue Number 6, July 2005
Comparison of Surficial Sediment Quality in the St. Louis River Area of Concern, MN/WI, with Other North American Sites, Environmental Bulletin, Issue Number 5, March 2005
Reconstructing Historical Water Quality in Minnesota Lakes from Fossil Diatoms, Environmental Bulletin Number 4, September 2004
Estimating Surface Water Contribution to Ground Water Recharge in the Verdi Aquifer, Southwest Minnesota, Environmental Bulletin Number 3, June 2004
A Water Quality Assessment of Trout Streams on Lake Superior’s North Shore, Environmental Bulletin Number 2, April 2004
Personal Exposure to PM2.5 in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Environmental Bulletin Number 1, August 2003
