State, local, tribal, and federal agencies currently use various methods to estimate risks to human health from the consumption of chemically contaminated, noncommercially caught fish and shellfish. A 1988 survey, funded by the U.S. Society, identified the need for standardizing the approaches to evaluating risks and developing fish consumption advisories that are comparable across different jurisdictions. Four key components were identified as critical to the development of a consistent risk-based approach: standardized practices for sampling and analyzing fish, standardized risk assessment methods, standardized procedures for making risk management decisions, and standardized approaches to risk communication. To address concerns raised by the survey respondents, EPA has developed a series of four documents designed to provide guidance to state, local, tribal, and regional environmental health officials responsible for issuing fish consumption advisories. The documents are meant to provide guidance only and do not constitute a regulatory requirement.

"November 2000." Includes bibliographical references.