Arzu Çiçek

Metal contents in water, sediment, and Oligochaeta-Chironomidae of Lake Uluabat, a Ramsar site of Turkey.

Samples of lake water and sediment, and sediment and two dominant zoobenthic taxa (Oligochaeta: Potamothrix hammoniensis and Chironomidae: Chironomus [Camptochironomus] tentans larvae), were collected from 12 stations in Lake Uluabat and examined from the metal level point of view (cadmium, chromium, lead, copper, nickel, and zinc). Our results showed that the occurence of metals in water, sediment, and the two zoobenthic taxa are relatively high. The opinion that supports the results of Lake Uluabat shows that certain species of oligochaetes and chironomids accumulate examined metals several times over compared to their surroundings. Therefore, it is concluded that the oligochaetes and the chironomids are suitable candidates to be used in biomonitoring surveys of Lake Uluabat.

Effects of urban air pollutants on elemental accumulation and identification of oxidative stress biomarkers in the transplanted lichen Pseudovernia furfuracea

Determining the origins of heavy metals, their accumulation, and their detoxification mechanisms constitutes a major problem in understanding environmental pollution in urban areas. The objective of this study was to detect the relative air quality in Eskisehir city center (Turkey) through the transplanted epiphytic lichen Pseudovernia furfuracea as a biomonitor of the concentrations of some heavy metals accumulated and to describe their toxic effects on lichen physiology during the study period of one year. The influence of heavy metal accumulations on macroelement levels were also examined. In addition to analysis of B, K, Ca, P, S, Al, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Zn, Pb, and Cu, total soluble proteins and oxidative stress parameters through glutathione (GSH) contents and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities were also determined. Results indicate that, although the heavy metal concentrations were found to be gradually increased from the unpolluted control zone to the city center, the concentrations of macroelements S and Ca were higher in the polluted area. However, B, K, Mg, and P elements were found to be higher in the unpolluted area than in the polluted zones. It seems that heavy metals induce oxidative stress in lichens; we found enhancement of GSH concentrations and GST activity. Most probably, the expected destruction in this organism was reduced by the intervention of antioxidant capacity. Therefore, this report confirms the fact that the epiphytic lichen P. furfuracea is a good model for biomonitoring atmospheric quality for a long-term transplantation study, and oxidative stress parameters stand out as a tool for an early environment assessment of other physiological parameters.

Accumulation of Heavy Metals from Motor Vehicles in Transplanted Lichens in an Urban Area

Abstract Thalli of the lichens Pseudevernia furfuracea, Usnea longissima, Lobaria pulmonaria, and Peltigera praetextata were taken from unpolluted areas and transplanted to a downtown site in Erzurum, Turkey. Heavy metals copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe) were measured after an 8 month exposure period. Changes in the heavy metal concentrations were observed during the exposure period in lichen species and in both locations. Heavy metal concentrations were significantly higher in Peltigera praetextata than the other species at the location nearest to the junction crossroads. Peltigera praetextata may be considered a good indicator. These results can be attributed to the effect of atmospheric pollutants on the transplanted lichens.

Metal accumulation in sediment, water, and freshwater fish in a Dam Lake

Metal concentrations were determined in water, sediment, and freshwater fish samples (Squalus cephalus, Barbus esocinus, and Barbus xanthopterus) collected from Karakaya Dam Lake, Turkey, to estimate the risk of human consumption and pollution. Metal concentrations differed between the species (p < 0.05) even as they were living in similar habitats. Metal analyses were performed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Cd and Hg were not detected in water, sediment, and fish samples. Also, Mn, Ni, and Se were not determined in water. The accumulation order of the metals were found to be Fe > Zn = Cu in water and Fe > Zn > Mn > Ni > Cu in sediment. In general, the accumulation order of elements in the tissues all of the species sampled were found as Fe > Zn > Se > Mn > Cu > Ni > Cd in muscle, Zn > Fe > Mn > Se > Cu > Ni > Cd in gills, Fe > Zn > Se > Mn > Cu > Ni > Cd in liver and gonad, and Zn > Fe > Cu > Mn > Se > Ni > Cd in kidney. It was concluded that the fish from the dam lake are not heavily burdened with metals, but they should be controlled periodically to avoid excessive intake of trace metals by humans, and to monitoring the pollution of aquatic environment.

Effects of environmental conditions on historical buildings: lichens and NOx gases

Environmental conditions affect human life in various ways. One of the domains of environmental conditions is buildings, and amongst them, a major and important group is the historical buildings. To keep this inheritance alive, one needs to determine the effects of environmental conditions. In this work, effects of lichens and NOx on 7 historical buildings in Erzurum were investigated. Historical buildings are readily available for lichen growth, which takes a long time, and this growth was investigated as a sample of environmental effect that occurs through long periods of time. NOx, main source of which is traffic in Erzurum, were considered as the environmental effect of daily life.

Early antioxidative defence responses in the aquatic worms (Limnodrilus sp.) in Porsuk Creek in Eskisehir (Turkey).

Certain oligochaeta specimens have been universally applied as bioindicators to reflect the organic and inorganic pollution in rivers and play a major role in the decomposition of pollutants. The aim of this study was to investigate the water quality in Porsuk Creek in Eskisehir (Turkey) through the specimens from two different species that belong to Limnodrilus genus, using their biomonitoring compatibilities for the accumulated trace element concentrations and to describe the applicability of antioxidative systems as biomarkers of pollution in Tubificinae. Therefore, some parameters that serve as biomarkers for antioxidative defence, total protein, glutathione (GSH) contents and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities, were determined in Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri and Limnodrilus udekemianus. The study was completed with the chemical analysis of the trace elements from these specimens and also from the water samples. As a conclusion, the observed elevation in GSH levels and GST activities reflect the contribution of oxidative stress in toxicity mechanisms due to the accumulation of trace elements, and the study also suggests a general induction of detoxification metabolisms in the presence of several pollutants in benthic sediment–dwelling worms. According to the average value, the trace element levels for two species are as follows: Fe > Al > Zn > Mn > Pb > Cu > Ni > B > Cd = Cr = Hg. As Porsuk Creek is used for many purposes, such as irrigation, drinking water and fish production, discharges of all types of wastes should be under stringent control to avoid the unwanted health effects to its habitants and to humans.

Short‐Term Effects of Hydrogen Fluoride on Nicotiana tabacum L

Data on the short‐term effects of fumigation with hydrogen fluoride (HF) on the response behavior of the Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. St. Karabalar 6265 are being presented. Growth rate, fluoride accumulation in leaves and soils, and degradation in chlorophyll and nicotine contents of the plant species against the variations in two experimental factors, namely the exposure concentration and exposure time parameters, were investigated. Resulting data reveals that the variety selected for this study is not so tolerant to fluoride as generally reported in the literature, if only the individual effects of the pollutant is considered.

Accumulation of heavy metals by earthworms in boron-contaminated area (Kırka-Eskişehir): (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae)

Abstract Boron is a naturally occurring material and is used in domestic and industrial products. Kırka region possesses the largest boron deposits not only in Turkey but also in the world. Even though boron is an essential nutrient for plants and an essential element for many organisms, certain concentrations can be toxic to aquatic and terrestrial organisms. This paper investigates the concentration of boron in soil and an earthworm (Eiseniella tetraedra) collected from five sampling sites at different times during the year 2008 from surrounding areas of the Kırka county of Eskişehir. Because the adsorption of borates into soils is controlled by the presence of aluminum and iron, earthworms and soil were also analyzed for aluminum and iron. Our results show that earthworm samples accumulated more boron than soil and at five sampling sites aluminum and iron were present in soil at relatively high concentrations.

EMET ÇAYI SU KALİTESİNİN MEVSİMSEL DEĞİŞİMİ

Emet Cayi Havzasi, Turkiye’nin en onemli nehir sistemlerinden biridir ve Emet Cayi Uluabat Golu’nu (Ramsar Alani) besleyen en onemli iki akarsudan biridir. Havzada yurutulen tarimsal ve endustriyel faaliyetler ve evsel atiklar sistem uzerinde yogun bir kirlilik baskisi olusturmaktadir. Bu calismada, biri Kinik Cayi uzerinde, biri Dursunbey Cayi uzerinde ve altisi Emet Cayi uzerinde olmak uzere Emet Cayi Havzasi’nda belirlenen toplam sekiz istasyondan mevsimsel olarak su ornekleri toplanmistir. Bolgenin su kalitesinin belirlenmesi icin bazi limnolojik parametreler (nitrat azotu, nitrit azotu, amonyum azotu, sulfat, ortafosfat ve BOI 5 ) arastirilmistir. Elde edilen veriler istatistiki olarak degerlendirilmis ve cesitli ulusal ve uluslararasi kuruluslar tarafindan bildirilen limit degerler ile karsilastirilmistir. Elde edilen verilere gore, havzanin onemli miktarda organik kirlilige maruz kaldigi tespit edilmistir.

Maden Havzası Balıklarında Vücut Ağırlığı ile Ağır Metal Biyoakümülasyon İlişkileri: Emet Çayı Havzası

Bildirildigi gibi, farkli fizyolojik yapilara sahip degisik balik turleri, agir metallere maruz kalma surelerine ve maruz kalinan metalin cesidine gore, agir metalleri farkli dokularda farkli miktarlarda biriktirmektedirler. Baliklarin yasi, dolayisiyla yasa paralel artis gosteren agirliklari, dokulardaki toksik element biyoakumulasyonlarinda onemli bir faktordur. Bu calismada, ulkemizin en onemli maden yataklarinin yer aldigi Emet Cayi uzerinde tespit edilen uc ve yine Emet Cayi Havzasi’nda yer alan Dursunbey Cayi uzerinde tespit edilen bir istasyondan mevsimsel olarak, havza icin en buyuk onem arz eden Squalius cii , Capoeta tinca ve Barbus oligolepis turleri, gerekli miktarlarda toplanmistir. Yakalanan baliklarin kas, solungac, karaciger ve bobrek dokularinda tespit edilen nikel, cinko, arsenik, bor, kadmiyum, bakir, mangan, kursun, gumus ve krom biyoakumulasyon seviyelerinin balik agirliklari ile iliskileri arastirilmistir. Elde edilen verilere, SPSS 17 istatistik programi kullanilarak Pearson Korelasyon Analizi uygulanmis, yuksek korelasyon gosteren degiskenlerin uc boyutlu regresyon grafikleri cizilmis ve regresyon katsayilari hesaplanmistir. Calismamiz sonucunda, balik dokularinda tespit edilen toksik element biyoakumulasyonlari ile baliklarin total agirlik verileri arasinda anlamli iliskiler kaydedilmistir.