A Toxicological Research in Atatürk Dam Lake: Toxicity and Stress Responses in Fish Blood

Atatürk Dam Lake, where the study was conducted, the largest dam in Turkey, is located on the Euphrates River and it is an important freshwater resource with its diverse and nutritionally valuable aquatic products and some endemic organisms. Cyprinus carpio found in this dam is one of the most cultivated fish species in the world that has economic value and is consumed as a primary food source by the local people. This dam lake is unfortunately under the influence of many environmental pollutants. In the present study, parameters of hematological (leukocytes, erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit) and plasma biochemical [glucose, cholesterol, cortisol, total protein, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), potassium, sodium, and chloride] of C. carpio that was caught from different regions (Samsat, Sitilce, and Bozova) in terms of pollution load of Atatürk Dam Lake in September in 2021 were investigated. Significant decreases were observed in erythrocyte, hemoglobin, hematocrit, total protein, and cholesterol levels in Bozova region compared to Samsat and Sitilce regions (P