Fatih Perçin

Occupational health of Turkish Aegean small-scale fishermen.

BACKGROUND Fishing has always been a dangerous occupation, and numerous factors have a direct or indirect impact on the health of fisherman. AIMS To examine the health, safety and working conditions of small-scale fishing fleets in the Turkish Aegean Sea coasts. METHODS Data were obtained from a questionnaire distributed to a random sample of small-scale fishermen along the Aegean Sea coast. Data collection took place between September 2009 and January 2010. RESULTS Out of 5714 Aegean Sea small-scale fishermen, 1166 from 76 fishing ports participated. Twenty-nine per cent of fishermen did not have any social security cover. The most prevalent health problems (using International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision [ICD-10]) found were musculoskeletal problems (e.g. discopathies, muscular strain, rheumatism) and eye, ear-nose, digestive and urinary system problems. Alcohol consumption was high (68%) in fishermen and 72% reported that they smoked more during fishing trips. Health problems appeared to be associated with a number of factors including migrant status, income satisfaction, rank, type of fishing and cumulative work per year. CONCLUSIONS In Turkey, small-scale fishermen experience a significant number of health problems and have unhealthy lifestyles. Interventions designed to improve working conditions of small-scale fishermen could help to reduce the number of occupational injuries, which in turn may impact positively on their health. Prevention policies to reduce alcohol and tobacco consumption should also be developed.

Some trace elements in front and rear dorsal ordinary muscles of wild and farmed bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus L. 1758) in the Turkish part of the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

The levels of trace metals of front (F) and rear (R) dorsal ordinary muscles (dom) of wild and farmed bluefin tuna (BFT) were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Wilds were obtained from Antalya Bay and farmed were taken from a fish farm in Ildir Bay (Izmir), during spring to early summer. The accuracy of the method was checked standard reference material (NRCC-DORM-2 Dogfish Muscle). Mean trace element content of the wild samples (Fdom and Rdom, respectively) was found as: Cu, 0.790 and 0.591; Mn, 0.084 and 0.096; Ni, 0.101 and 0.124; Zn, 4.788 and 5.577; Fe, 7.670 and 9.222 (μg g(-1)wet wt.). Values for farmed were detected as Cu, 0.581 and 0.453; Mn, 0.111 and 0.139; Ni, 0.072 and 0.092; Zn, 4.631 and 3.380; Fe, 4.957 and 7.156 (μg g(-1)wet wt.). The results were compared with literature values.

Organochlorine pesticides and antioxidant enzymes are inversely correlated with liver enzyme gene expression in Cyprinus carpio.

The present study was designed to investigate the association between levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and liver enzyme responses in Cyprinus carpio. Fish were caught at three stations in the Büyük Menderes River (BMR): the origin, the Sarayköy station, and the estuary. Seventeen OCPs were quantified in liver tissue, as well as in river water by gas chromatography (GC)-electron capture detection, and structures were confirmed by negative chemical ionization-GC-mass spectrometry. The activities of CYP1A, GST, Se-GPx, CAT, and SODs were determined by spectrophotometry or fluorimetry. The mRNA levels of CYP1A, GST, and SOD1 were quantified by real-time RT-PCR. CYP1A and antioxidant enzyme activities were dramatically higher at the Sarayköy station, where OCP pollution is higher than the other two stations. Mn-SOD is responsible for the increase in total SOD activity in the Sarayköy samples. However, gene expression levels of certain enzymes were heavily suppressed. Our findings show that the transcriptional and functional responses of CYP1A and antioxidant enzymes are inversely correlated.

Periodic monitoring of persistent organic pollutants and molecular damage in Cyprinus carpio from Büyük Menderes River

Concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were quantified in river water and sediment, as well as in the liver and muscle tissues of Cyprinus carpio that were sampled four times in a year at three stations in the Büyük Menderes River (BMR). Potential biomarkers of possible cellular molecular damage, namely lipid peroxidation (LPO) degradation products, protein carbonyls (PCO) and DNA repair product 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), were analysed. All the targeted pollutants were measurable both in biotic and abiotic samples. Interestingly, the results suggested that there was recent organochlorine pesticide (OCP) input into the river water in the first two sampling periods in all stations in contrast to prohibition, while input of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) was not detected. Liver POP concentrations were higher than in muscle, as expected, and were found to decrease from the first to the fourth sampling period in all stations, except PBDEs. Levels of LPO degradation products in the liver and in muscle tissues decreased from the first to the fourth sampling period. This suggests that these markers reflect the lipid damage in respective tissues due to the tissue burden of targeted POPs. Protein carbonyls were the highest in the first sampling period, followed by a dramatic decrease in the second, and then a gradual increase towards the fourth sampling period in all stations. 8-OHdG levels were lower in Sarayköy station in the first sampling period. Among the measured biomarkers, only several LPO degradation products were significantly correlated with OCPs and PCBs in liver tissue.

Ectoparasitic sea lice, Caligus minimus (Otto 1821, Copepoda: Caligidae) on Brawn wrasse, Labrus merula L., in Izmir Bay, Aegean Sea

This paper reports on the species of Caligus minimus of the genus Caligus (Siphonostomatoida: Caligidae), parasitic on marine fish, brawn wrasse (Labrus merula), genus Labridae, of Izmir Bay, Aegean Sea. The sea lice, C. minimus, is identified from the gill and external surfaces of the brawn wrasse (total length, 30 cm; weight, 210 gr.), particularly on its head. The entire collection of sea lice consists of 11–12 specimens, all of which are female. Ectoparasitic copepods especially belong to the Caligidae family, the most common crustacean parasites on fish. C. minimus can be found in Atlantic coasts, British waters, the North Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. C. minimus ectoparasite is a host and mainly recorded on Perciformes, such as Dicentrarchus labrax, Pagellus bogaraveo, Umbrina cirrosa, and Mugil cephalus. Recently, in both sides of the Aegean Sea, C. minimus has been identified from cultured marine fish, mainly D. labrax. The intensity of the infection is apparent on adult fish, especially between winter and early summer. C. minimus is the first record on brawn wrasse caught by gill nets from the Urla coasts in Izmir Bay, Aegean Sea in March 2010.

SERUM BIOCHEMISTRY OF FARMED BLUEFIN (Thunnus thynnus L.) IN THE AEGEAN SEA

Values of blood biochemistry are important for all animals in terms of health and welfare, providing knowledge of evidence in diseases. One of the most economically important fish species bluefin tuna-BFT ( Thunnus thynnus L.) in aquaculture considering high prices in the related business. Accordingly, farmers care about fattening fishes and some analyses provide significant knowledge, especially blood analyses for them. In the study, blood samples were recovered from fishes (10 male and 12 female) in fattening farms at Ildir, Cesme, Izmir province, East of Aegean Sea. Fork length and weight values were 140–180cm, and 40–80kg, respectively. Water quality parameters such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH and turbidity were indicated as 16–20 o C, ‰ 35.7–38.2g L -1 , % 6.9-7.8mgL -1 , 36.8–38.2m. The research measured uric acid 4.32mg/100mL -1 , creatinine 1.12mg/100mL -1 , serum urea concentration 15.04mg/100mL -1 ), albumin 2.30g/100mL -1 , globulin 2.56g/100mL -1 , total protein 6.15g/100mL -1 , serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase 178.24UL -1 , serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase 141.52UL -1 , alkaline phosphatase 54.26UL -1 , g-glutamyl transferase 220.14UL -1 , total cholesterol 272.04mg/100mL -1 , triglycerides 320.75mg/100mL -1 , high-density lipoprotein 88.68mg/100mL -1 and low-density lipoprotein 180.18mg/100mL -1 . Results during the fattened period in growing cages indicates that BFTs were under pressure and stress attacks because of unnatural habitats such as feeding, narrow area etc. in farm area. Also, males were more sensitive and undergo more stress than females.

MATURATION PYRAMID OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

Occupational Health and Safety System (OHS) is important for governments, employers and workers. Recently, OHS program has developed day by day and tried to secure working environment. For this purpose, it is necessary that the written job security rules in the workplace should be internalized by employees, and employers, and government system. Workers can comply from the top to the bottom of organization and contribute to development of rules through their own personal knowledge, experience, and in-house training. In addition, they are complying with job security rules without requiring an audit, which is thus called as an occupational safety culture. Many employees are affected by accident and their health is deteriorated year by year, which inevitably leads to loss of work force thus countries suffering from economic and social damages. Moreover, OHS is not only enough for improving security culture but also requires collateral training and maturation processes. The purpose of OHS activity is to reduce job accidents that declines rate of work harm, economic loss and social problems in the government. Furthermore, occupational safety researches are associated with engineering techniques, in particular. To add, it includes human social and dependent sciences. Maturation and evolution in companies and countries are included in this concept. T he present study emphasizes the new model as an approach to fatalism, formalism, prescriptivism, internalization, participation, and awareness.