Oxidative Stress Responses induced by Yttrium in Gammarus pulex at Increasing Temperatures

In parallel with the increase in the need for raw materials used in industry, the area and amount of use of Rare Earth Elements are also increasing. Yttrium (Y), which is used as a raw material source, is thought to form residues in the environment. Gammarus pulex individuals were selected as a model organism to investigate the effects of Yttrium on the environment and aquatic organisms. G. pulexes were exposed to Y at different temperatures (16, 18, and 20 °C) and concentrations (25, 100, and 500 μg/L) for 96 hours and samples were taken at 24 and 96 hours for biochemical analyses. For biomarker analysis, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) and glutathione (GSH) levels were performed using CAYMAN ELISA kit. Study data revealed that SOD and CAT activities increased significantly with increasing temperature and exposure concentration, while GPx activity showed an irregular response; in contrast, no significant change was observed in TBARS levels at 16 °C, while the increase in TBARS and significant changes in GSH levels at 18 and 20 °C indicate that oxidative stress becomes more pronounced at high temperatures.