Mercury advisories: Information, education, and fish consumption

• Published in: Journal of environmental economics and management Vol. 53; no. 2; pp. 158 - 179
• Main Authors: Shimshack, Jay P., Ward, Michael B., Beatty, Timothy K.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Elsevier Inc 01.03.2007; Elsevier; Elsevier Science Publishing Company, Inc
• Series: Journal of Environmental Economics and Management
• Subjects: Advisory; Child welfare; Children's health; Consumers; Consumption; Education; Environmental economics; Environmental health; Environmental risk; FDA approval; Fish; Fish consumption; Health; Health risk assessment; Information; Mercury; Pollution; Risk; Studies; United States > US; I18; Pollution; D12; Environmental health; Fish consumption; Children's health; Information; Mercury; Advisory; Environmental risk; Q53
• ISSN: 0095-0696; 1096-0449
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2006.10.002

This paper examines responses to a US national FDA advisory that urged at-risk individuals to limit store-bought fish consumption due to the dangers of methyl-mercury. We investigate consumer response using both parametric and nonparametric methods. Some targeted consumers significantly reduced canned fish purchases as a result of the advisory, suggesting that information-based policies can achieve the issuing agency's goals. Education and newspaper readership were important determinants of response, suggesting that information acquisition and assimilation are key factors for risk avoidance. While some groups reduced consumption as a result of the advisory, we do not find a response among the relatively large group of at-risk households which met neither the education nor readership criteria. The advisory also had unintended spillover effects; some consumers not considered at-risk reduced consumption in response to the advisory.