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Combined use of PAH levels and EROD activities in the determination of PAH pollution in flathead mullet (Mugil cephalus) caught from the West Black Sea coast of Turkey

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the extent of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution by measuring PAH levels and 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activities in flathead mullet (Mugil cephalus) samples caught from the West Black Sea coast of Turkey. The fish samples were caught in August 2008–2011. The levels of 13 PAHs were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the liver of fish. Most of the measured PAHs had three rings (low molecular weight). The frequencies of detection of PAHs were higher in fish samples caught from Zonguldak Harbour and Gülüç Stream Mouth than those from Sakarya River Mouth, Amasra and Kefken. EROD activities and cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) protein level were also measured in the fish liver microsomes. Highly elevated EROD activities and CYP1A levels were measured in the mullet samples caught from Zonguldak Harbour and Gülüç Stream than those from Amasra and Kefken. The detection of PAHs in the liver of fish samples shows recent exposure to PAHs. The chemical analyses of PAHs and EROD activity results together reflected the extent of PAH pollution in the livers of fish caught from the West Black Sea coast of Turkey. The results indicate that Zonguldak Harbour is the most polluted site in the West Black Sea coast of Turkey.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank all the members of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Gıda, Tarım ve Hayvancılık Bakanlığı) for their help in collecting the fish. They also would like to thank Ilker Kopru for his help in HPLC analysis and Prof. Dr. Aysel Kukner for her technical support in laboratory studies. This research was supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) (Project No: 104Y083).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey

    Azra Bozcaarmutlu, Canan Sapmaz, Gizem Kaleli, Sema Turna & Serpil Yenisoy-Karakaş

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  1. Azra Bozcaarmutlu
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  2. Canan Sapmaz
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  3. Gizem Kaleli
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  4. Sema Turna
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Correspondence to Azra Bozcaarmutlu.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

A part of this study was presented in poster format at the 9th International Society for the Study of Xenobiotics (ISSX) Meeting (September 4–8, 2010).

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Bozcaarmutlu, A., Sapmaz, C., Kaleli, G. et al. Combined use of PAH levels and EROD activities in the determination of PAH pollution in flathead mullet (Mugil cephalus) caught from the West Black Sea coast of Turkey. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 2515–2525 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3700-3

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