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Despite scientific attention to the toxicology of methylmercury (MeHg), little is known about population-based exposure to this compound. In this study, fish consumption and MeHg intake were estimated based on a seven-day recall survey of fish consumption among 1000 randomly selected New Jersey residents. Survey data were reported on a per-meal basis, and the fish species/dishes consumed at each meal were identified. Portion sizes for each meal were reported or estimated. To correct a possible bias due to underrepresentation of infrequent consumers, several schemes for weighting fish consumption data were investigated. MeHg concentration for most fish species was estimated from the National Marine Fisheries Service database or from recent United States Food and Drug Administration data. Commercial fish accounted for about 95% of all consumption. Mean fish consumption is estimated for all New Jersey adult consumers at 50.2 g/day (90th percentile = 107.4 g/day) and for women 18-40 years old (childbearing age) at 41.0 g/day (90th percentile = 88.1 g/day). Mean MeHg intake is estimated for all New Jersey adult consumers at 7.5 micrograms/day (90th percentile = 1.79 micrograms/day) and for women 18-40 at 6.3 micrograms/day (90th percentile = 14.8 micrograms/day). When MeHg concentrations are adjusted to account for the possible overestimation of current concentrations by the 20-year-old National Marine Fisheries Service database, it is estimated that MeHg intakes may be about 70-80% of unadjusted estimates. Based on these analyses, it is estimated that 21-30% of New Jersey women 18-40 and 5-8% of all New Jersey adults exceed their respective U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Reference Doses for MeHg. Because of uncertainty associated with the Reference Doses, exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines does not necessarily correspond to adverse effects on consumers or their fetuses.

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Analysis of DDT contamination in selected finfish and shellfish species from estuarine and coastal marine waters of New Jersey (USA) reveals consistently highest organochlorine pesticide levels in samples from the north and northeast regions of the state. The mean concentrations of DDT and its metabolites, DDE and DDD, in bluefish, striped bass, weakfish, and blue crabs collected at 27 stations throughout the state between 1988 and 1991 ranged from <25 to >300 microg/kg wet weight (wet wt). Gas chromatographic analysis of 175 tissue samples from these four species showed that the highest levels of DDTs (DDT plus DDE and DDD), exceeding 300 microg/kg wet wt, occurred in blue crabs (hepatopancreas) from the Hudson-Newark-Raritan Bay complex in the northeast region. Lower mean concentrations of DDTs (<200 microg/kg wet wt) were recorded in tissue samples of these species from all other regions of the state. The lowest levels of DDT contamination (mean <110 microg/kg wet wt) were found in samples from the south coast region. The greatest impact of DDT contamination is nearby metropolitan areas of the state, although the total concentrations of DDT in tissue samples from these areas are far less than the U.S. Food and Drug Administration action level of 5,000 microg/kg wet wt for this contaminant.

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Analysis of chlordane contamination in selected finfish and shellfish species from estuarine and coastal marine waters of New Jersey, USA, indicates consistently highest organochlorine pesticide levels in samples from the north and northeast regions of the state. Gas chromatographic analysis of tissue samples from four finfish species (American eel, Anguilla rostrata; bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix; striped bass, Morone saxatilis; and weakfish, Cynoscion regalis) and one shellfish species (blue crab, Callinectes sapidus) collected at 28 stations throughout the state during the 1986-1987 sampling period and 42 stations during the 1988-1991 sampling period revealed chlordane concentrations ranging from 5 to 2150 ppb wet weight (wet wt). Highest mean concentrations of chlordane (300 ppb wet wt) occurred in American eel from the Camden region, with secondary maxima (100 ppb wet wt) observed in the northeast region. Lower mean concentrations of chlordane (< 100 ppb wet wt) were recorded in tissue samples of other species collected elsewhere in the state. In general, the lowest levels of chlordane contamination (mean < 50 ppb wet wt) were found in samples from the south coast and Delaware regions. A major conclusion of this study is that some commercially and recreationally important finfish and shellfish species in New Jersey waters, especially those which are lipid-rich, have continued to accumulate chlordane from the environment long after restrictive regulations were first placed on its use in the US. The greatest impact of chlordane contamination is nearby metropolitan centers of the state (i.e., New York, Newark, Camden), although the total concentrations of chlordane in tissue samples from these areas are currently far less than the US Food and Drug Administration action level of 300 ppb wet wt.

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