Assessment of pollution with biomarkers in fish culture

Biotransformation enzymes are stimulated or inhibited depending on the exposure to xenobiotics and widely used as a biomarker. In this study, EROD activity, GST activity, reduced GSH amount, amount of lipid peroxidation product MDA as oxidative stress parameter, and ACHE inhibition as a neuromuscular parameter were measured in liver and muscle tissues of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) produced in aquaculture of Kemer Dam and in concrete ponds located in Fethiye. Samples were collected in January and July from fish farming in net cages in Kemer Dam and concrete cages in Fethiye in order to evaluate seasonal changes. Also, physicochemical properties of water samples collected from trout farms were measured and evaluated together with five biomarkers. Significant ACHE inhibition was observed in both stations in parallel with the increase in ammonium nitrogen in the July period (p ≤ 0.05). In parallel with the increase in turbidity in the Kemer Dam, a significant increase in GSH, MDA level, and GST activity was detected (p ≤ 0.05). As a result of the assessment of all data, significant increases were detected in EROD induction, GST activity, MDA level, and ACHE inhibition in concrete cages in Fethiye when compared to Kemer Dam (p ≤ 0,05). It was observed that pollution was at a lower level in July compared to January, and in Kemer Dam compared to Fethiye.