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Anglers’ Perceptions and Fish Consumption Risks in the Lower Tisza River Basin

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Abstract

This study identifies risk perception and actual health risks from exposure to metals in fish from the Tisza River Basin of central Europe. Mining in the region has chronically introduced metals; however, two major mine-tailings spill in 2000 contributed an estimated 240,000 m3 of wastewater and tailings contaminated with cyanide and metals to the system. In 2013 and 2014, water and fish (N = 99) collected from the lower Tisza River Basin were analyzed for cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc. Concurrently, surveys (N = 45) collected near sampling sites assessed fish-consumption patterns and risk perception. Metals in water exceeded regulatory criteria at multiple sites; however, metals are not bioaccumulating to a degree of undue concern in fish as bioaccumulation factors were below 1. Average concentrations of metals in fish fillets (µg g−1 wet weight) in decreasing order were zinc (8.8) > copper (0.14) > nickel (0.06) > lead (0.02) > cadmium (0.004). Fillets were within European Food Safety Authority recommendations; however, the Target Hazard Quotient for lead was elevated at 1.5 for average consumers and 3.5 for people who consume fish twice weekly. The majority of survey participants were unconcerned with local fish consumption (87 %), citing the “clean” appearance of fishing locations. Participants also reported relatively low fish consumption, with most (76 %) eating basin fish once a week or less. While our study indicates fish are generally safe for human consumption, waters are polluted, suggesting that local fishing populations may be at risk from unseen pollutants and highlighting the need for monitoring and notification systems.

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Acknowledgments

The United States National Science Foundation Grant No. 0903510 funded this research. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. The authors would like to thank the Southern Illinois University IGERT in Watershed Science and Policy and associated colleagues for the opportunity to conduct this work. We would also like to thank Dr. Béla Csányi and collaborators from the Danube Research Institute, colleagues from the University of Szeged including Balint Csendes, Dr. Nicolae Popa from the West University of Timişoara, friends and colleagues from the University of Novi Sad including Dr. Ivana Teodorovic and Milan Tomić, as well as colleagues from the Stara Tisa Park Prirode for their support in this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Southern Illinois University, 1000 Faner Dr., MC 4514, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA

    Amanda C. Marshall & Leslie A. Duram

  2. Southern Illinois University, 1125 Lincoln Dr., MC6501, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA

    Jenny S. Paul & Marjorie L. Brooks

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  1. Amanda C. Marshall
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Correspondence to Amanda C. Marshall.

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Research Involving Human and Animal Rights

The fish used in this study were collected following ICPDR methods (Csányi 2002), and euthanized according to American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) guidelines. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

Ethical Approval

The survey used in this study was approved by and conducted according to the guidelines for human subjects research of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Human Subjects Committee. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of Southern Illinois University and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Marshall, A.C., Paul, J.S., Brooks, M.L. et al. Anglers’ Perceptions and Fish Consumption Risks in the Lower Tisza River Basin. Expo Health 9, 197–211 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-016-0233-7

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