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Asian American and Pacific Islander seafood consumption — a community-based study in King County, Washington

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 13, pages 256–266 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

This paper describes and quantifies seafood consumption rates, and acquisition and preparation habits of 202 first- and second-generation Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) from 10 ethnic groups (Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Mien, Samoan, and Vietnamese) in King County, Washington in 1997. Participants were all seafood consumers. Average and median seafood consumption rates were 117.2 and 89 g/day, respectively, based on the average body weight (62 kg) of participants. Shellfish comprised 45.9% and “all finfish” 43.3% of all seafood consumed. Consumption rates varied significantly between ethnic groups with Vietnamese (2.63 g/kg/day) and Japanese (2.18 g/kg/day) having the highest average consumption rates, and Mien (0.58 g/kg/day) and Hmong (0.59 g/kg/day) the lowest. The most frequently consumed finfish and invertebrates were salmon (93% of respondents), tuna (86%), shrimp (98%), crab (96%), and squid (82%). Fish fillets were eaten with the skin 55%, and the head, bones, eggs, and/or other organs 20% of the time. Crabmeat including the hepatopancreas (accumulates lipophilic chemicals such as organochlorine compounds) was consumed 43% of the time. This paper was a product of a Community–University Partnership. Community guidance in study design and data collection was essential for successful participation by the AAPI Community. Data reported here not only will provide risk assessors with AAPI-specific seafood consumption rates but with insights into cultural consumption/acquisition habits that may alter risk assessment assumptions for the AAPI Community.

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Acknowledgements

This study would not have been possible without the generosity of the Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Mien, Samoan, and Vietnamese communities of King County and Simon Troung of the Refugee Federation Service Center. EPA Environmental Justice Grant No. 66–604 funded this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NIEHS — Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health, University of Washington, Seattle, 98105, WA, USA

    Ruth Sechena

  2. Statpro Consultants, Seattle, WA, USA

    Shiquan Liao

  3. US Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, Seattle, WA, USA

    Roseanne Lorenzana

  4. Refugee Federation Service Center, Seattle, WA, USA

    Connie Nakano

  5. The Mountain-Whisper-Light Statistical Consulting, Seattle, WA, USA

    Nayak Polissar

  6. Department of Environmental Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Richard Fenske

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  1. Ruth Sechena
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  2. Shiquan Liao
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  3. Roseanne Lorenzana
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  4. Connie Nakano
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  5. Nayak Polissar
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  6. Richard Fenske
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Correspondence to Roseanne Lorenzana.

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Sechena, R., Liao, S., Lorenzana, R. et al. Asian American and Pacific Islander seafood consumption — a community-based study in King County, Washington. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 13, 256–266 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500274

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