Ecotoxicological assessment of water pollution in Sariyar Dam Lake, Turkey

Given the effects of environmental pollution and different biotic factors on some important biochemical markers, as enzymes, two fish species inhabiting the Sariyar Dam Lake, Turkey have been investigated. Ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, glutathion S-transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, and alanine and aspartate amino transferase activities have been measured in liver samples of Cyprinus carpio and Capoeta tinca. Also, brain acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterase activities have been measured for the same samples. Selected enzymes confirmed that Sariyar basin is polluted by urban wastes and agricultural and industrial activities for many years. Organochlorine (OC) pesticide residues, caused by intensive agricultural activities, have also been observed in water, sediment samples, and adipose tissues of carp. Monitored results showed that SDL was polluted by different kinds of OC compounds such as DDT and its derivatives which are accumulated in adipose tissues of carp. Highest accumulation was found for β-BHC in carp. The changes of enzyme activities in this study may be related to environmental pollution, while enzyme activity variations could be attributed to variable pollutants and variable concentrations of these pollutants. The results highlighted the potential convenience of these biomarkers to be used as components of environmental monitoring program in risk assessment studies in SDL. Since a seasonal variation in selected enzyme activities was found, the possible implications of such variability in the use of these enzymes as environmental biomarkers are also discussed. Hepatic cytosolic EROD did not show any significance according to the pollution factors in the lake which may be attributed to relatively less contamination by organic compounds such as PAH products.