KDHE ISSUES REVISED FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES Jan. 5, 2012
Agency evaluates waters annually TOPEKA — The Kansas Department
of Health and Environment (KDHE), in conjunction with the Kansas
Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), has issued
revised fish consumption advisories for 2012. The advisories
identify types of fish or other aquatic animals that should be
eaten in limited quantities or, in some cases, avoided
altogether because of contamination. Fish consumption advisories
are formulated using Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) risk
assessment methods. Cancer risk assessment is a method to
determine the added increase in cancer levels in a human
population if fish in the advisory areas are consumed regularly
(one 8-ounce serving per week) over a 70-year period.
Assessments that estimate the increased risk of cancer as
greater than one in 100,000 persons are regarded as unacceptably
high. Risk assessments for contaminants assessed as non-
carcinogens (mercury, lead, cadmium) are based on 8-