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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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Büyük Menderes River (BMR) is one of the largest rivers in Turkey. This river irrigates efficient farmlands and includes tributaries of other rivers and streams and many populated towns within its limits in the Ege region. Both the estuary and Işıklı Lake serve as a sanctuary for various waterbirds. Therefore, the BMR plays a critical role both for the inhabitants and for the ecosystem organisms in its environs. In the present study, we analyzed levels of metals including iron, barium, zinc, vanadium, cobalt, chromium, cadmium, copper, nickel, aluminum, arsenic, manganese, antimony, silver, selenium, boron, mercury, titanium, and lead in river water, sediment, fish ( Cyprinus carpio; common carp), and in various waterbird ( Fulica atra, Euroasian coot; Larus michahellis, yellow-legged gull; Ardea cinerea, grey heron; Larus melanocephalus, Mediterranean gull; and Pelecanus crispus, pelican) samples. Analyses were performed using an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) instrument after sample preparation. Comparing metal concentrations among different sample types, it was found that barium, aluminum, and zinc are the major metals in river water, and zinc in common carp muscle, while iron, aluminum, and manganese are the major metals in sediments. Iron, zinc, copper, and aluminum were the highest in waterbird muscle tissue. Iron and barium were found to be the major metals in eggshell, while iron and zinc are the major metals in egg samples. A simple 'worst-case scenario' model of risk assessment revealed that some of the analyzed metals may pose a risk for human health through consuming fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]