Motor Function in Aging Great Lakes Fisheaters

Exposure to contaminants in Great Lakes fish has been linked to impaired neuropsychological functioning in children, but neurological function of exposed adults has not been evaluated. This report describes a cross-sectional analysis of the effects of PCB/DDE exposure from contaminated fish on fine motor function in older adults. The subjects were 50–90-year-old Michigan residents who were members of a previously established study cohort. Fisheaters ate 24 lbs or more of sport-caught Lake Michigan fish/year at the time they were originally recruited in 1980–1982. Age- and sex-matched non-fisheaters ate 6 or fewer lbs/year. Outcome measures were scores on the Static Motor Steadiness Test (SMST) and Grooved Pegboard Test (GPT). PCB/DDE exposure was determined through serum analyses performed at the time of recruitment into the present study in 1993–1995. Because of the high correlation between serum PCB and DDE levels in this sample (Spearmanr=0.64,P