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

Authors : Özge Fırat, Özgür Fırat

Pages : 93-98

Doi:10.31594/commagene.1651481

View : 33 | Download : 35

Publication Date : 2025-06-30

Article Type : Research Paper

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 : Tatlısu, Cyprinus carpio, kirlilik, hematolojik indeksler, plazma parametreleri

ORIGINAL ARTICLE URL