Fish Health Survey for Environmental Monitoring at an U.S. Army Superfund Site: Impact Assessment and Community Outreach
IAAAM Archive
Janet E. Whaley1; John T. Paul2; Renate Reimschuessel3; Andy S. Kane3
1U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD; 2Aberdeen Proving Ground Garrison, APG, MD; 3Aquatic Pathobiology Center, Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine and Program in Toxicology, Baltimore, MD

Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), located on the upper Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, has served the U.S. Army for more than 75 years as a site for research, development, and testing of munitions and military chemicals. Due to the toxic nature of many of the compounds which were disposed of "on site," APG is on the National Priorities List for remediation. This is a source of concern for local citizens and fishermen. In order to better understand the potential for chemical contamination to affect local fish populations, and to enhance public relations between the U.S. Army and local residents, the U.S. Army and the University of Maryland Aquatic Pathobiology Center initiated a cooperative study. This effort involved public outreach and participation through an angler survey. Persons having questions about the health of fish caught near APG were encouraged to submit their specimens for evaluation by the study. Animals were examined by gross necropsy and histopathology. Examination results were recorded according to standard pathology protocols and then translated for outreach to citizens and fishermen. Development of non-technical response formats for survey results as well as outreach to fishing clubs and citizens' groups represents an important venue for risk communication of technical information to the public. Survey design and outreach formats will be presented.

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Janet E. Whaley


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