Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), located on the upper Chesapeake
Bay, in Aberdeen, MD, 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 environmental contamination.
This is a source of concern for local citizens and fishermen.
In order to better understand effects of potential chemical contamination
on local vertebrate fauna, and to enhance public relations between
the U.S. Army and local residents, the U.S.
Army Directorate of Safety, Health and the Environment and
the University of Maryland Aquatic Pathobiology
Center initiated a cooperative study. This effort involved
public outreach and participation through an angler survey. Persons
catching fish of "questionable health" near APG were
encouraged to submit their specimens for diagnostic 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 materials are presented
to show angler questionnaires, lay-translated gross necropsy/histopathology
reports and correspondence to survey participants.