NEWS RELEASE
October 26, 1998


Community Health Releases Kalamazoo River Angler Survey
Public Comment Sessions Scheduled

People who eat fish from the Kalamazoo River are more likely to have higher amounts of some chemicals in their bodies than those who do not according to a report released today by the Michigan Department of Community Health, two local health Departments and the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The study, conducted in 1994, was the result of efforts by the above agencies, the Kalamazoo County Human Services Department and the Allegan County Health Department.

"This collaborative study is another important tool used to monitor the health of Michigan residents," said Michigan Department of Community Health Director James K. Haveman, Jr. "There are many benefits to eating fish but individuals should utilize the Department's updated 1998 Fish Advisory which provides more detailed information about fish consumption in general."

In 1994, staff from both counties conducted a Phase I survey to determine the extent of fishing and fish consumption along 35 miles of the Kalamazoo River and three miles of Portage Creek. During the course of the survey they encountered 1,091 anglers observed fishing and interviewed them to find demographic information, fishing and fish consumption practices and to determine their willingness to participate in a second phase of the survey. The Phase II follow-up study enrolled participants and asked them about their health, occupations, personal lifestyle choices and sampled and analyzed their blood for contaminants found in river sediments and fish.

The results of Phase I indicate differences between anglers from Kalamazoo and Allegan Counties with respect to fish consumption advisory awareness, using fish as a source of food, employment, and sharing fish taken from the water bodies with friends, relatives and neighbors.

The second phase of the survey, which included health interviews and biological sampling, showed higher residual levels of contaminants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethylene (DDE) in the blood samples of fisheaters as compared to non-fisheaters.

These findings recommended increased publicity about fish consumption advisories for the Kalamazoo River and Portage Creek. Since the time the survey was taken, the Department of Community Health has worked with ATSDR and the Counties to develop a poster suitable for outdoor use that can be displayed at fishing and boating access sites along the river and the creek. The poster refers anglers to the fish advisory guide they receive when they purchase their fishing license and gives them the toll free Michigan Department of Community Health, Health and Toxics Hotline 1-800-648-6942 for more information.

The state has recently improved the format and distribution of the fish advisory guide to better educate individuals on fish consumption recommendations. Over one and a half million copies of the fish advisory guide have been made available to the public through fishing licence vendors, Women, Infant and Children Program county offices, local health departments, Michigan Osteopathic Association, and the Michigan Medical Society. The department has also run a series of Public Service Announcements and paid promotional announcements as well as including the message in dozens of promotional print ads.

The full text of a Public Comment Draft of the Kalamazoo River Anglers Survey and Biological Testing Study is available at the Environmental Health Offices of the Allegan County Health Department and the Kalamazoo County Human Services Department. A 30 day public comment period starts October 27, 1998 during which comments and questions are welcome from the public in writing or by phone using the Hotline. There will be two Public Availability Sessions held, one on October 27 in Allegan County at the Allegan County Commissioner's Chambers, 113 Chestnut Street, Allegan, from 7 to 9 p.m., and one on October 28 in Kalamazoo County at the Georgian Room in the Kalamazoo County Human Services Department on Gull Road from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The availability sessions are informal meetings at which representatives of all the agencies that participated in the survey and study will be available to answer questions and discuss the report with interested community members. For more information regarding the locations of the report or availability sessions you may call the Allegan County Health Department at (616) 673-5411 or the Kalamazoo County Human Services Department at (616) 373-5210.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS CONTACT: Geralyn Lasher
October 26, 1998 (517) 241-2112