For this population, 75% of the finfish intake came from eight species (Tsuchiya et al. 2008b).
Results also showed that self-selected ethnic identity was associated with total BHg concentrations, estimated 30-day Hg intake, and frequency of either finfish or shellfish consumption.
Aquaculture is also significant and includes the raising of aquatic plants and tropical fish for aquariums as well as various shellfish and finfish for human consumption.
As part of the interview, participants were asked about their fish (finfish and shellfish) consumption.
The data include BHg levels, 24-hr dietary recall, and 30-day finfish and shellfish consumption frequency for women 16 49 years of age who reside in the United States.
We identified statistically significant relationships between higher income and, respectively, increasing BHg concentration (p < 0.0001), estimated 30-day intake of Hg (p = 0.008), and 30-day frequency of finfish and shellfish consumption (p < 0.0001) through bivariate regressions.
When anglers were asked about their "overall" fish consumption (finfish and shellfish) over the past 3 months, 7% reported eating fish once per month or less, 55% ate fish once per week, 36% ate fish three times per week, and 2% ate fish once per day or more (Table 1).
In the "overall" approach, anglers were asked to indicate the frequency that best fit their actual finfish and shellfish consumption from the following choices: never, once a month or less, once a week, three times a week, once a day, more than once a day.
The major route of exposure of these animals to brevetoxin appeared to be via consumption of finfish such as pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides), pigfish (Orthopristis chrysoptera), striped mullet (Mugil cephalus), and spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) [17], which are among the primary prey items for bottlenose dolphins in the Sarasota Bay region [38], [39].
This is similar to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES; 1999 2004) findings, where blood Hg levels increased with increases in monthly consumption of fish (both finfish and shellfish) (Mahaffey et al. 2009).
