Assessing risks and benefits of consuming fish muscle and liver: Novel statistical tools

Abstract Novel statistical tools were tested with the muscle and liver of anglerfish species ( Lophius piscatorius and Lophius budegassa ) and black scabbard fish ( Aphanopus carbo ) and the muscle of blackbelly rosefish ( Helicolenus dactylopterus ) and megrim species ( Lepidorhombus boscii and Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis ). Methylmercury (methyl-Hg) content and selenium (Se) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) were analysed. For muscle, it was determined that probabilities of the methyl-Hg intakes exceeding the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) (weekly meal, from 1:12 in L. boscii to 1:2 in H. dactylopterus ) were always higher than probabilities of the Se and EPA + DHA intakes surpassing the recommended daily allowance (RDA) (weekly meal, never surpassing 1:2,938,713 in L. budegassa ) and intake (weekly meal, never surpassing 1:13,974 in L. whiffiagonis ), respectively. For liver, probabilities of the Se intakes exceeding the RDA (weekly meal, from 1:82 in L. piscatorius to 1:1.2 in A. carbo ) were higher than probabilities of the methyl-Hg intakes exceeding the PTWI (weekly meal, from 1:96 in L. budegassa to 1:4 in A. carbo ). The Se health benefit values calculated for the muscle (from 5.5 in H. dactylopterus to 27.5 in L. budegassa ) and liver (from 165.7 in L. piscatorius to 1041.7 in A. carbo ) were all positive.