| Virginia
Journal of Science.
2005. Vol 56 (3) : 121-140 |
| Fish
Consumption Patterns of Populations in Vicinities of Lake Kastoria and
Lake Pamvotis, Greece Eugene G. Maurakis,1,2,3 David V. Grimes,4 and Dimitra Bobori 5 1Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St., Richmond, VA 24542, 2School of Continuing Studies, University of Richmond, VA 23173, 3School of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, 4Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, 4949 A Cox road, Glen Allen, VA 23060, 5Department of Biology, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece 54006. ABSTRACT
Objectives are to establish fish consumption patterns of
populations in vicinities of two lakes (Kastoria and Pamvotis) in
Greece for use in the assessment of risks associated with consumption
of fishes in these agri-chemically impaired lakes. Parameters measured
were demographics (i.e., gender, age, weight, education level,
occupation, residency), freshwater fish eating frequency, species and
sizes of fishes consumed, and fish consumption habits [i.e., quantity,
parts, and preparation method). All annual mean site-specific
consumption rates of the four gender-age class sub-populations surveyed
in vicinity of Lake Kastoria (avg. range= 0.103-0.29 kg/day) exceed
those of Greece (0.066 kg/day), EU (0.068 kg/day), Spain (0.104
kg/day), Portugal (0.159 kg/day), and the USEPA default value (0.054
kg/day) with two exceptions. Female consumption rates (0.087-0.103
kg/day) of Perca fluviatilis were below annual consumption rates of
Spain and Portugal. Similarly, annual mean site-specific consumption
rates of Anguilla anguilla and Cyprinus carpio by male (0.199-0.210
kg/day) and female adults (0.096-0.157 kg/day) in vicinity of Lake
Pamvotis exceeded those of Greece, EU, Spain, Portugal, and the USEPA
default value. Survey results indicate better-educated Greeks to be
higher consumers of fish; however, market availability appears to be a
stronger determinant of food choice in comparison to health education.
All populations in vicinities of both lakes preferred to eat fried
fishes with one exception: grilled C. carpio from Lake Pamvotis was
preferred by female and male adults.Keywords: fish consumption, risk assessment, chronic daily intake, Greece |