Nutritional benefits and POPs risks of fish consumption in Izmir, Türkiye: a multivariate dietary exposure assessment

This study evaluated fatty acid composition, organochlorine pesticide (OCP) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in muscle tissue, and the associated nutritional benefits and health risks of consuming 19 commercially important fish species (16 wild-caught and 3 aquacultured) from İzmir, Türkiye. Pelagic species, particularly European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicholus), sardine (Sardina pilchardus), and Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda), exhibited the highest EPA + DHA concentrations (2.62, 2.51, and 1.73 g/100 g, respectively), whereas lean demersal species contained substantially lower n-3 PUFA levels. PCB burdens were highest in Atlantic bonito and cultured sea bass. Among the OCPs analyzed, p,p'-DDE was the predominant compound, suggesting predominantly historical contamination sources. Fish Lipid Quality (FLQ) values ranged from 0.56 to 1.24, with no significant differences between wild and aquacultured groups (p > 0.05). Hazard Index (HI) values remained below 1 for all species. Benefit-Risk Quotient analyses incorporating both PCB and OCP exposure showed BRQnon-carc values below 1 for all taxa, whereas BRQcarc values ranged from 0.46 to 5.54. Anchovy and sardine had the lowest BRQcarc values (0.46 and 0.48, respectively, indicating the most favorable benefit-risk balance among the species examined.