Abstract:
Mersin Coast plays a quite important role in terms of biodiversity and productivity of the Mediterranean marine ecosystem. However, many effects such as industrial, urban, touristic, and agricultural factors cause pollution in this region as in many other coasts. Therefore, this study aims to discuss the potential risks and benefits of the consumption of bogue fish (Boops boops, Linnaeus, 1758) collected from the North-Eastern Mediterranean in terms of fatty acid and metal levels. The results showed that PUFA for winter and spring and SFA for summer and autumn as the predominant fractions were determined. n-ary sumation PUFA/ n-ary sumation SFA ratio was higher than the recommended value for each season. In addition, DHA was higher than EPA for all seasons. Nutritional and health values of lipids are maintained throughout a year, except for winter. The concentration of metal levels in the tested muscle was within the permissible limit of the world levels. Fortunately, the calculated estimated weekly intakes of metals (EWIs) were much lower than the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) for all seasons. Thus, human health risks resulting from the consumption of this fish species from Mersin Bay are unremarkable because fish muscles are not active tissues for metal accumulation. Besides, the target hazard quotient (THQ) and the total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) were < 1, indicating that there is no potential health risk for the consumers. Benefit/risk ratios for all seasons were calculated and found to be HQ(EFA) < 1. It was determined that the cancer risk for consumers is quite low, except for heavy consumption cases. As a goal of the study, important information about the effects of seasons on the changes in lipid quality and metal properties of bogue fish was provided and discussed in detailed.