Risk assessment of some toxic metals in canned fish products retailed in Mansoura, Egypt.

Background: Canned fish products are widely consumed in Egypt, particularly for protein-rich meals that are quick to prepare and low in calories. Canned fish products are contaminated with toxic metals from the fish itself or from canning materials during processing. Aim: To determine the residual levels of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), aluminum (Al), and Tin (Sn) in some canned fish products obtained from retail shops in Mansoura, Egypt. Furthermore, noncarcinogenic health risks evaluation for the Egyptian population due to hazardous metal oral intake. Methods: One hundred canned fish products (20 each of herring, mackerel, salmon, sardine, and tuna) were collected from May to September 2023, and canned fish products were obtained from Mansoura city markets in Egypt. Samples were digested in a solution composed of 60% nitric acid and 40% perchloric acid, and then an atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used for the detection of selected toxic metals. Results: It was found that the residual level of hazardous metals exceeded the acceptability level established in the European Union for Pb, Cd, and Hg by 20%, 10%, and 10%, 15%, 5%, and 20%, 35%, 30%, and 45%, 25%, 25%, and 40%, in examined herring, mackerel, sardine, and tuna, respectively. In contrast, all salmon samples were accepted for Pb and Hg, and only 5% were not accepted due to a higher Cd level than the maximum permissible limit. The average estimated daily intake of (EDI) is below the tolerable daily intakes (TDIs) for all metals. Comparatively, the EDI of Hg was 0.265 µg/kg body weight (B.W) exceeded TDIs 0.228 µg/kg B.W. The hazard index for canned tuna and sardines is more than one. Conclusion: Canned fish products are contaminated with a variety of toxic metals, especially sardine and tuna. Therefore, it is advised to decrease the consumption rate of such fish products.

Fish DNA Sensors for Authenticity Assessment-Application to Sardine Species Identification.

Food and fish adulteration is a major public concern worldwide. Apart from economic fraud, health issues are in the forefront mainly due to severe allergies. Sardines are one of the most vulnerable-to-adulteration fish species due to their high nutritional value. Adulteration comprises the substitution of one fish species with similar species of lower nutritional value and lower cost. The detection of adulteration, especially in processed fish products, is very challenging because the morphological characteristics of the tissues change, making identification by the naked eye very difficult. Therefore, new analytical methods and (bio)sensors that provide fast analysis with high specificity, especially between closely related fish species, are in high demand. DNA-based methods are considered as important analytical tools for food adulteration detection. In this context, we report the first DNA sensors for sardine species identification. The sensing principle involves species recognition, via short hybridization of PCR-amplified sequences with specific probes, capture in the test zone of the sensor, and detection by the naked eye using gold nanoparticles as reporters; thus, avoiding the need for expensive instruments. As low as 5% adulteration of Sardina pilchardus with Sardinella aurita was detected with high reproducibility in the processed mixtures simulating canned fish products.

Heavy metal contents in salted fish retailed in Egypt: Dietary intakes and health risk assessment.

Background: In Egypt, salted fish is considered a typically processed fish, including salted sardine, salted mullet (feseikh), keeled mullet (sahlia), and herrings. High-quality protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vital amino acids, and trace minerals such as magnesium and calcium are all abundant in fish. However, eating salted fish can expose people to toxins found in the environment, such as heavy metals. Aim: In Zagazig, Egypt, four types of locally produced salted fish-salted sardine, feseikh, sahlia, and herrings-were tested for heavy metals, specifically lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg). Second, the assessed heavy metals linked to the Egyptian population's consumption of salted fish were used to calculate estimated daily intakes (EDIs) and potential health hazards, such as hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI). Methods: Samples of salted herrings, feseikh, sahlia, and sardines were gathered from the markets in Zagazig. Samples of salted fish were subjected to acid digestion and then heavy metal extraction. Atomic absorption spectrometers (AAS) were used to measure heavy metals. HI, HQ, and EDI were computed computationally. Results: With the exception of mercury, which was not found in the salted herrings, the recorded results showed that all of the tested metals were present in the samples that were evaluated. The herrings contained residual Pb and Cd contents that were highest, followed by sardine, feseikh, and sahlia, in that order. After sardine, herrings, and sahlia, feseikh has the greatest concentration. Sardine, feseikh, and sahlia had the highest quantities of mercury, in that order. A number of samples were found to be above the maximum allowable levels. There were no apparent hazards associated with consuming such conventional fish products, according to the computed HQ and HI values for the heavy metals under investigation based on the daily intakes. Conclusion: Samples of salted fish sold in Zagazig, Egypt, had high quantities of the hazardous elements Pb, Cd, As, and Hg. Due to the bioaccumulation and biomagnification characteristics of these studied metals, such data should be taken carefully even though the computed health hazards revealed no potential problems.

Fishmeal replacement by periphyton reduces the fish in fish out ratio and alimentation cost in gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata.

Aquaculture threatens natural resources by fishing down the sea to supply fishmeal. Alternative protein sources in aquafeeds can provide a solution, particularly those that are waste from other operations and thereby reduce feed production costs. Toward this goal, we examined the waste biomass of marine periphyton from biofilters of an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system as a replacement for fishmeal in diets of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). Four isoproteic (41%) and isolipidic (16.7%) aquafeeds were formulated with increased content of periphyton and a corresponding decrease in fishmeal from 20 to 15, 10, or 0%. The growth and biochemical content of seabream fingerlings (initial body weight 10 g) were examined over 132 days. Replacing 50% of fishmeal by waste periphyton improved feed conversion ratio (1.2 vs. 1.35 in the control diet) without harming fish growth. The complete replacement of fishmeal with periphyton resulted in 15% slower growth but significantly higher protein content in the fish flesh (59 vs. 52% in the control diet). Halving fishmeal content reduced feed cost by US$ 0.13 kg-1 feed and saved 30% in the cost of conversion of feed to fish biomass (US$ 0.58 kg-1 produced fish vs. $0.83 in the control diet). Finally, the total replacement of fishmeal by waste periphyton in the diet reduced the fish in-fish out ratio to below 1 (0.5-0.9) as compared to 1.36 in the control diet. Replacing fishmeal with on-farm produced periphyton minimizes aquaculture footprint through the removal of excess nutrients in effluents and the use of waste biomass to reduce the 'fish in' content in aquafeeds and fish production costs. The present study demonstrates the great practical potential of this dual use of marine periphyton in enhancing the circular economy concept in sustainable fish production.

Comparative assessment of amino acids composition in two types of marine fish silage.

Fish silage is a brown liquefied product achieved by the action of enzymes when finely grounded whole/parts of either single or mixed fish types are subjected to acidification. This study made a comparative assessment of biochemical and nutritive properties, especially the amino acid composition in supernatant phase of formic acid silages prepared from two fish types, Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) and false travely (Lactarius lactarius) representing fat fish (FF, fat content > 5%) and lean fish (LF, fat content < 5%), respectively during 35 days of fermentation (DoF). Significantly higher content of total amino acid (TAA) and free amino acids (FAA) were recorded in FFS (TAA, 41.2 ± 0.03 mg/g; FAA, 31.3 ± 0.003 mg/g) compared to LFS (TAA, 35.8 ± 0.07 mg/g; FAA, 18.26 ± 0.003 mg/g; FAA, 31.3 ± 0.003 mg/g) (p < 0.05). At the end of 35 DoF, the concentrations of amino acids such as asparagine, histidine, isoleucine, valine, cysteine, serine, lysine and arginine were significantly higher in FFS as compared to LFS. The relative amino acid composition of FFS and LFS varied in accordance with DoF and the relationship was found to be highly significant (ANOVA, p < 0.00001). High concentrations of L-amino acids such as leucine, glutamic acid and arginine were recorded in both FFS and LFS. In conclusion, the analysis suggested that a fermentation period of 25-30 days showed a significant effect on the composition of amino acids in both types of ensilage compared to other fermentation periods (p < 0.05). Considering the role of amino acids in enhancing the plant growth and proliferation, the findings of the present study are quite useful.

Classification of transformed anchovy products based on the use of element patterns and decision trees to assess traceability and country of origin labelling.

Quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Q-ICP-MS) and direct mercury analysis were used to determine the elemental composition of 180 transformed (salt-ripened) anchovies from three different fishing areas before and after packaging. To this purpose, four decision trees-based algorithms, corresponding to C5.0, classification and regression trees (CART), chi-squareautomatic interaction detection (CHAID), and quick unbiased efficient statistical tree (QUEST) were applied to the elemental datasets to find the most accurate data mining procedure to achieve the ultimate goal of fish origin prediction. Classification rules generated by the trained CHAID model optimally identified unlabelled testing bulk anchovies (93.9% F-score) by using just 6 out of 52 elements (As, K, P, Cd, Li, and Sr). The finished packaged product was better modelled by the QUEST algorithm which recognised the origin of anchovies with F-score of 97.7%, considering the information carried out by 5 elements (B, As, K. Cd, and Pd). Results obtained suggested that the traceability system in the fishery sector may be supported by simplified machine learning techniques applied to a limited but effective number of inorganic predictors of origin.

Endocrine-disrupting organochlorine xenobiotics in fish products imported from Asia-an assessment of human health risk.

The sources of endocrine-disrupting persistent organochlorine compounds (OC) are environmental pollutants. Contaminated food is a direct result of environmental pollution, and fish are considered as the main source of OC in the human diet. This study aimed to analyze the contamination of imported fish fillets with organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in the context of potential health risks of consumers in Poland in the light of the new tolerable weekly intake (TWI) values. The tested compounds in fish products were determined by liquid-liquid extraction and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GS-MS) method. Despite the detection of almost all pesticides analyzed in the fish fillets tested, the risk factor (hazard quotient) was significantly lower than 1.0, ranging from 0.003 to 0.013. Considering the previous recommended TWI value (14 pg-TEQ/kg bw/week), the estimated weekly intake was lower at 43-53% of TWI. However, according to the new TWI values set by the EFSA in 2018, the estimated weekly intake was about three times higher than the TWI. This raises concerns regarding threats to consumer health.

Metabolomic Markers of Southern Dietary Patterns in the Jackson Heart Study.

SCOPE: New biomarkers are needed that are representative of dietary intake. METHODS AND RESULTS: We assess metabolites associated with Southern dietary patterns in 1401 Jackson Heart Study participants. Three dietary patterns are empirically derived using principal component analysis: meat and fast food, fish and vegetables, and starchy foods. We randomly select two subsets of the study population: two-third sample for discovery (n = 934) and one-third sample for replication (n = 467). Among the 327 metabolites analyzed, 14 are significantly associated with the meat and fast food dietary pattern, four are significantly associated with the fish and vegetables dietary pattern, and none are associated with the starchy foods dietary pattern in the discovery sample. In the replication sample, nine remain associated with the meat and fast food dietary pattern [indole-3-propanoic acid, C24:0 lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), N-methyl proline, proline betaine, C34:2 phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) plasmalogen, C36:5 PE plasmalogen, C38:5 PE plasmalogen, cotinine, hydroxyproline] and three remain associated with the fish and vegetables dietary pattern [1,7-dimethyluric acid, C22:6 lysophosphatidylethanolamine, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)]. CONCLUSION: Twelve metabolites are discovered and replicated in association with dietary patterns detected in a Southern U.S. African-American population, which could be useful as biomarkers of Southern dietary patterns.

Microalgae-blend tilapia feed eliminates fishmeal and fish oil, improves growth, and is cost viable.

Aquafeed manufacturers have reduced, but not fully eliminated, fishmeal and fish oil and are seeking cost competitive replacements. We combined two commercially available microalgae, to produce a high-performing fish-free feed for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)-the world's second largest group of farmed fish. We substituted protein-rich defatted biomass of Nannochloropsis oculata (leftover after oil extraction for nutraceuticals) for fishmeal and whole cells of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich Schizochytrium sp. as substitute for fish oil. We found significantly better (p < 0.05) growth, weight gain, specific growth rate, and best (but not significantly different) feed conversion ratio using the fish-free feed compared with the reference diet. Fish-free feed also yielded higher (p < 0.05) fillet lipid, DHA, and protein content (but not significantly different). Furthermore, fish-free feed had the highest degree of in-vitro protein hydrolysis and protein digestibility. The median economic conversion ratio of the fish-free feed ($0.95/kg tilapia) was less than the reference diet ($1.03/kg tilapia), though the median feed cost ($0.68/kg feed) was slightly greater than that of the reference feed ($0.64/kg feed) (p < 0.05). Our work is a step toward eliminating reliance on fishmeal and fish oil with evidence of a cost-competitive microalgae-based tilapia feed that improves growth metrics and the nutritional quality of farmed fish.

Human Health Risk Assessment with Reference to the Consumption of Shrimp and Marine Fish.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Meghna river estuary plays a major role in the national fish production and is being connected to other channels that might accelerate the magnification of heavy metals in human tissue through the food chain after fish consumption. Therefore present study aimed to elucidate possible human health risks should people consume fishes from this river. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 5 heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Cr) in 6 being exported and highly consumed fish species (Lates calcarifer, Penaeous monodon, Encrasicholina heteroloba, Polynemus paradiseus, Sillaginopsis panijus and Ilisha megaloptera) from fish landing center during January 2016 to February 2017, near the Meghna river, Noakhali, Bangladesh were measured in the present study by using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). RESULTS: The metal concentration (µg g-1) varied as Cu 4.63- 73.57, Zn 39.54-180.44, Pb 0.011-0.019, Cd .003-.122 and Cr 4.92-15.88 where Zn and Cr surpassed the different food safety guidelines. Estimation of daily dietary intake (EDI) of all the elements was measured from the national fish consumption data. Value <1.0 of estimated Target Hazard Quotients (THQ) for all fish species indicated the absence of public health hazard in the area for continuous consumption for 70 years. Besides, the Target carcinogenic risk (TR) for Pb (1.92 E-08) was also lying below the lifetime carcinogenic risk (E-05). CONCLUSION: Although, this result pointed out an almost safe level of metal content in fishes for human consumption still continuous monitoring is necessary to ensure the safety of humans who rely heavily on aquatic resources in that area.

Fish-Based Baby Food Concern-From Species Authentication to Exposure Risk Assessment.

In this work, two different but complementary approaches were used to evaluate the reliability of fish-based baby foods as a source of safe nourishment for babies. More specifically, barcoding analysis based on the Cytochrome Oxidase I sequences was used for fish species authentication and an analysis of metal/metalloid levels was performed to estimate the exposure risk assessment derived from consumption of selected fish-based baby food in infants and toddlers. COI DNA barcoding revealed that in three samples the species detected did not match the common name of the species shown on the label. In particular, G. chalcogrammus and M. australis were found in place of M. merluccius and O. mykiss was found in place of S. salar. The analysis of exposure risk assessment indicated a low risk for developing chronic systemic and carcinogenic effects in infants and toddler, under an exposure scenario based on daily consumption of a single box of fish-based baby food. However, it is important to highlight that in order to provide a comprehensive risk assessment it would be important to supplement the levels of exposure resulting from the total diet. Overall, our results suggest that more attention should be paid by authorities to ensure the safety of food for infants and toddlers.

Effect of the sodium reduction and smoking system on quality and safety of smoked salmon (Salmo salar).

Excessive sodium (Na) intake has been associated with high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, sodium reduction is a public health challenge worldwide. The aim of this study was to develop smoked salmon with a reduced Na content. Sodium chloride (NaCl) was replaced by potassium chloride (KCl) at 25% and 50% (molar replacement) and studied in combination with two smoking procedures (natural wood and liquid smoke) as well as two smoking temperatures (18-19 °C or 56 °C). Smoked salmon samples were characterized by physicochemical, sensory and microbiological analyses. No major differences were observed regarding physicochemical properties in the studied treatments. Smoked samples with 50% of NaCl replaced by KCl were slightly more bitter than those with 25% whereas samples with 25% of replacement did not show differences to those with non-reduced Na content (5 g of added NaCl per 100 g of salmon). Molar Na:K ratio decreased from 4,3 in controls to 1,4 and 0,6 in samples with a NaCl reduction level of 25% and 50% respectively. Microbiological assessment indicates that 2-week shelf-life would be appropriate and safe in terms of accomplishment of the EU regulation, taking into account foreseeable storage temperatures (up to 8 °C). Thus, it is possible to achieve a reduction of 25-50% of NaCl in smoked salmon by replacing NaCl by KCl and considerer this product as a "source" of K.

Mercury concentrations in reared Atlantic bluefin tuna and risk assessment for the consumers: To eat or not to eat?

This study determines the levels of total mercury in muscle tissue from 268 reared Atlantic bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean Sea, detects variations on mercury concentrations in relation to biological parameters and rearing period and evaluates the health risk posed by fish consumption taking into consideration the size, age and rearing period. A total of 30 pooled samples were analyzed. The total Hg concentrations ranged from 0.49 to 1.60 mg/kg w.w. and showed a significant positive relationship with the size and age. It was found that the longer the rearing period, the lower the mercury concentration. The total Hg exceeded the maximum level defined by the European Commission Decision in a proportion of 40.0%. Since the value of Target Hazard Quotient was higher than 1 in all different groups (medium, large, 6 months and 18 months reared specimens), the maximum possible safe weekly consumption (400 g) is suggested.

Legal regulations and consumer attitudes regarding the use of products obtained from aquaculture.

Aquaculture is an industrial activity that not only aims to be a source of quality food, but also is a way to restock fish populations and to conserve the biodiversity of our oceans. On the other hand, the production system can influence the consumer perceptions about what is purchased and consumed, as well as the subsequent environmental and social effects. Fish feeding production is affected by the growth of aquaculture and the increasing demand that have let to deficit, high prices, and low ecological safety of fish meal and oil. In this regard, the use of microbial biomass obtained from a variety of microorganisms has been reported as a potential substitute for plant- and animal-derived ingredients, satisfying the requirements in protein and energy and even adding functional properties. In addition, microalgae can increase the nutritional value of animal feed, play a key role in the physiological growth and external appearance of aquatic animals. Finally, politicians, industry and society in general should be careful with the numerous uncertainties still present in the sector that can weaken its sustainability from environmental, social and economic perspectives.

Commercial fish ELISA kits have a limited capacity to detect different fish species and their products.

BACKGROUND: Fish is a major food and allergen source, requiring safety declarations on packages. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are often used to ensure that the product meets the required standards with regard to the presence of allergens. Over 1000 different fish species are traded and consumed worldwide, and they are increasingly provided by aquaculture. Up to 3% of the general population is at risk of sometimes fatal allergic reactions to fish, requiring strict avoidance of this commodity. The aim of this study is to evaluate the capacity of three commercially available ELISA tests to detect a wide variety of bony and cartilaginous fish and their products, which is essential to ensure reliable and safe food labeling. RESULTS: The detection rates for 57 bony fish ranged from 26% to 61%. Common European and North American species, including carp, cod, and salmon species, demonstrated a higher detection rate than those from the Asia-Pacific region, including pangasius and several mackerel and tuna species. Among the 17 canned bony fish products, only 65% to 86% were detected, with tuna showing the lowest rate. None of the cartilaginous fish (n = 9), other vertebrates (n = 8), or shellfish (n = 5) were detected. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that three commercial fish ELISA kits had a limited capacity to detect fish and their products. The complexity of fish as a protein source that is increasingly utilized means that there is an urgent need for improved detection methods. This is crucial for the food industry to provide safe seafood products and comply with international legislation. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dietary and Biological Assessment of the Omega-3 Status of Collegiate Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3 FA) are associated with cardiovascular health, brain function, reduction of inflammation, and several other physiological roles of importance to competitive athletes. The ω-3 FA status of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I athletes has not been well-described. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ω-3 FA status of NCAA Division I athletes using dietary and biological assessment methodology. Athletes from nine NCAA Division I institutions from throughout the U.S. (n = 1,528, 51% male, 34 sports represented, 19.9 ± 1.4 years of age) completed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess ω-3 FA from diet and supplements. Omega-3 Index (O3i) was evaluated in a sub-set of these participants (n = 298, 55% male, 21 sports represented, 20.0 ± 1.3 years of age) using dried blood spot sampling. Only 6% (n = 93) of athletes achieved the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics' recommendation to consume 500 mg DHA+EPA per day. Use of ω-3 FA supplements was reported by 15% (n = 229) of participants. O3i was 4.33 ± 0.81%, with no participants meeting the O3i benchmark of 8% associated with the lowest risk of cardiovascular disease. Every additional weekly serving of fish or seafood was associated with an absolute O3i increase of 0.27%. Overall, sub-optimal ω-3 FA status was observed among a large, geographically diverse group of male and female NCAA Division I athletes. These findings may inform interventions aimed at improving ω-3 FA status of collegiate athletes. Further research on athlete-specific ω-3 FA requirements is needed.

Nationwide assessment of persistent halogenated compounds (PHCs) in farmed golden pompano of China.

Persistent halogenated compounds (PHCs) contamination has become a major concern over the world. Here we investigated occurrence, spatial distributions, congener profiles, as well as health risks of PHCs in farmed golden pompano in China using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The concentrations of PCBs, PBDEs and OCPs were in the range of 0.78-4.79 ng/g wet weight (ww), not detected (nd)-1.14 ng/g ww and 1.1-38.8 ng/g ww, respectively. Furthermore, ρ,ρ'-DDT, ο,ρ'-DDT and PCB 101 were the dominant PHC contaminants. The estimated daily intakes of PHCs through consumption of golden pompano were up to 12.86 and 131.34 ng/kg body weight/day based on the mean and 95th concentrations determined in golden pompano, respectively. Risk-based analysis indicates that target PHCs in golden pompano would not pose risks to human. Our study presents the first report of a nationwide survey of PHCs contamination in farmed golden pompano in China.

Metals and metalloid in gold mine pit lakes and fish intake risk assessment, Burkina Faso.

This study aimed to determine the levels of metals and metalloid (arsenic) in pit lakes from a gold mining site and in their fishes and assess their potential health effect on the local human population, in order to evaluate whether pit lakes can be safely used for aquaculture. Water quality data were collected from two pit lakes, namely West Pit 1 (WP1) and West Pit 2 (WP2), and the Nakambé River (NR) in Burkina Faso. Fish consumption rates in different villages were assessed through a survey. Commonly available fish were sampled from the pit lakes and the NR. Fish from the pit lakes contained higher amounts of metals and metalloid than fish from the river (WP1 ~ WP2 < NR). Of the four species of fish considered, Oreochromis niloticus and Hydrocynus forskahlii had the highest metals and metalloid content and Bagrus bajad and Clarias anguillaris had the lowest. The results indicated that the consumption of the whole fish results in higher metals and metalloid intake than consumption of the fleshy part only. Due to the low fish intake of 5.34 ± 2.60 g/day/adult deduced from the nutritional survey, exposure to metals and metalloid was below referential doses. The highest arsenic intake comes from eating entire O. niloticus (0.058 mg/day/adult) from WP1. Eating O. niloticus and C. anguillaris exposes people to an arsenic intake of 0.01 mg/day/adult. The arsenic contents of H. forskahlii and B. bajad were below the method detection limit.

Residues of legacy organochlorine pesticides and DDT metabolites in highly consumed fish from the polluted Guanabara Bay, Brazil: distribution and assessment of human health risk.

Organochlorine (OCP) pesticides were determined in samples of sardine (Sardinella brasiliensis), whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri), and mullet (Mugil liza) from Guanabara Bay (state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). OCP concentrations and fish consumption were linked with acceptable daily intake values in order to assess the human health risk for the Brazilian population. The total concentrations of OCPs (Σ OCP) was 6.6 ng/g f.w., 7.5 ng/g f.w., and 2.8 ng/g f.w. for sardines, corvina, and mullet, respectively. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) among the species related to o,p'-DDD and o,p'-DDT concentrations. Both DDT-related compounds were 5 and 76 times more abundant in sardines than in whitemouth croaker and mullet. Newly discovered DDT metabolite, o-Cl-DDMU, was frequently detected in the fish. None of the samples exceeded the maximum limits for acceptable levels of OCP residues. According to the data of average intake of Brazilian population, none of three species exceeded toxicological parameter. The investigated fishes are considered as safe for human consumption in regard to exposure of the studied OCPs. However, fish may be a intake source of OCP metabolites such as o-Cl-DDMU whose toxicity is still unknown.