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

• In muscle tissue, probability of methyl-Hg intake exceeding the PTWI was high.
• In muscle tissue, probability of Se and EPA + DHA intakes surpassing RDA/RDI was lower.
• In liver tissue, methyl-Hg hazards may be outweighed by Se associated benefits.
• Pregnant and nursing women should consume less than one weekly meal of these fish.

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.