A Toxicological Research in Atatürk Dam Lake: Toxicity and Stress Responses in Fish Blood

Abstract

Atatürk Dam Lake, where the study was conducted, the largest dam in Turkey, is located on the Euphrates River and it is an important freshwater resource with its diverse and nutritionally valuable aquatic products and some endemic organisms. Cyprinus carpio found in this dam is one of the most cultivated fish species in the world that has economic value and is consumed as a primary food source by the local people. This dam lake is unfortunately under the influence of many environmental pollutants. In the present study, parameters of hematological (leukocytes, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit) and plasma biochemical [glucose, cholesterol, cortisol, total protein, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), potassium, sodium, and chloride] of C. carpio that was caught from different regions (Samsat, Sitilce, and Bozova) in terms of pollution load of Atatürk Dam Lake in September in 2021 were investigated. Significant decreases were observed in erythrocyte, hemoglobin, hematocrit, total protein, and cholesterol levels in Bozova region compared to Samsat and Sitilce regions (P<0.05). However, significant increases were determined in plasma glucose, cortisol, ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, and potassium levels of fish in Sitilce and Bozova regions compared to Samsat region (P<0.05). Our study shows Atatürk Dam Lake is still under the influence of pollutants originating from agricultural and urban activities and the fishes in the dam lake are negatively affected by this pollution.

Keywords

• Freshwater
• Cyprinus carpio
• pollution
• hematological indices
• plasma parameters

Supporting Institution

Adıyaman University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit

Project Number

KMYOMAP/2021-0001

Ethical Statement

Çalışma için yasal araştırma etik kurul onay izinleri Adıyaman Üniversitesi Deney Hayvanları Etik Kurulu'ndan alınmıştır (Tarih: 24/12/2020, Karar No:4, Protokol No: 2020/067).

Atatürk Baraj Gölü’nde Toksikolojik Bir Araştırma: Balık Kanındaki Toksisite ve Stres Yanıtları

Abstract

Çalışmanın yürütüldüğü Atatürk Baraj Gölü Türkiye’deki en büyük baraj olup Fırat Nehri üzerinde yer almakta ve içerdiği çok çeşitli ve besin bakımından değerli su ürünleri ve bazı endemik canlıları ile önemli bir tatlı su kaynağıdır. Bu barajda bulunan Cyprinus carpio ekonomik değeri olan ve yöre halkı tarafından birinci dereceden besin kaynağı olarak tüketilen dünyada en fazla yetiştiriciliği yapılan balık türlerinden biridir. Atatürk Baraj Gölü ne yazık ki birçok çevresel kirleticilerin etkisi altındadır. Sunulan bu çalışmada, baraj gölünün kirlilik yükü bakımından farklı bölgelerinden (Samsat, Sitilce ve Bozova) 2021 yılının Eylül ayında yakalanan C. carpio’nun hematolojik (lökosit, eritrosit, hemoglobin, hematokrit) ve plazmanın biyokimyasal parametreleri [glukoz, kolesterol, kortizol, total protein, alanin aminotransferaz (ALT), aspartat aminotransferaz (AST), laktat dehidrojenaz (LDH), alkalen fosfataz (ALP), potasyum, sodyum ve klor] araştırılmıştır. Eritrosit, hemoglobin, hematokrit, total protein ve kolesterol düzeylerinde Samsat ve Sitilce bölgeleri ile karşılaştırıldığında Bozova bölgesinde anlamlı azalışların olduğu belirlenmiştir (P<0,05). Bununla birlikte Samsat bölgesine göre Sitilce ve Bozova bölgesi balıklarının plazma glukoz, kortizol, ALT, AST, ALP, LDH ve potasyum düzeylerinde ise anlamlı artışlar belirlenmiştir (P<0,05). Çalışmamız Atatürk Baraj Gölü’nün hala tarımsal ve kentsel aktivitelerden kaynaklı kirleticilerin etkisi altında olduğunu ve baraj balıklarının bu kirlilikten olumsuz etkilendiğini göstermektedir.

Keywords

• Tatlısu
• Cyprinus carpio
• kirlilik
• hematolojik indeksler
• plazma parametreleri

Supporting Institution

Adıyaman Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinasyon Birimi

Project Number

KMYOMAP/2021-0001

Ethical Statement

This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of animal experiments. Legal research ethics committee approval permissions for the study were obtained from the Adıyaman University Experimental Animal Ethics Committee (Date: 24/12/2020, Decision No: 4, Protocol No: 2020/067).

Thanks

Adıyaman Üniversitesi Bilimsel Araştırma Projeleri Koordinasyon Biriminin yöneticilerine ve çalışanlarına teşekkür ederiz.

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