Determination of 7-ethoxyresorufin-o-deethylase (EROD) induction in leaping mullet (Liza saliens) from the highly contaminated Aliaga Bay, Turkey

Abstract

Pollution of the aquatic environment is a global concern owing to the devastating effects of contaminants whose levels are growing at an alarming rate, and it has become a major threat for marine organisms, as well as to humans as consumers. This study has been carried out on leaping mullet obtained from Aliaga Bay, which is located on the west coast of the Aegean Sea near Izmir and hosts the world's fifth largest shipyard, plus a broad range of industrial activities, including an oil refinery and a paper factory. The waste from these industries, combined with municipal sewer discharges, is the main cause of pollution in this region. There is no national documentation or research on the determination of pollution resulting from the industrial activities in this area. In the present study, the degree of induction of CYP4501A-associated 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity and immunochemical detection of CYP1A1 in the liver of leaping mullet (Lisa saliens) were used as biomarkers for the assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-type organic pollutants in Aliaga Bay. Mullet caught from different locations of the bay had approximately 52 times more EROD activity than the feral fish sampled from a clean reference site near Foca, Izmir. The results of this study indicate that Aliaga Bay is highly contaminated with PAH-type organic pollutants.

Evaluation of DNA Damage in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpioL.) by Comet Assay for Determination of Possible Pollution in Lake Mogan (Ankara)

“…One of the most essential features of molecular or cellular biomarkers is that they give a potential forecast about changes, on upper levels, of biological organizations at the population, community, and ecosystem levels. As a consequence, biomarkers can be taken as short-term indications of biological effects that will be seen in the long term [3,4]. There also are some biomarkers that can be used to evaluate the effects that arise from exposure to genotoxic xenobiotics that affect the DNA.…”

Pollution Biomarkers in the Framework of Marine Biodiversity Conservation: State of Art and Perspectives

“…Increased activity and expression of cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases (CYP1A) in fish liver is a specific biomarker of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). They are commonly used in the monitoring of coastal and marine areas polluted by hydrocarbons, industrial discharge, and urban sewerage systems [27]. A widely utilized exposure biomarker is also represented by the alterations in the blood concentration of the estrogen-inducible protein vitellogenin.…”

Biomarker Approach in Marine Monitoring and Assessment: New Insights and Perspectives

“…Fish cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases play a crucial role in the metabolism of numerous endogenous and exogenous compounds. Increased cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases (CYP1A) and associated 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity in fish, especially in areas polluted by petroleum hydrocarbons, paper bleaching, and other industrial and city sewerage systems, are among the biological biomarkers most commonly used to observe environmental contamination occurring in these areas [16]. It has been successively used in many field studies, involving several fish species, in USA and Europe.…”