ASSESSING CONTAMINATION IN STURGEONS GROWN IN RECIRCULATING AQUACULTURE SYSTEM BY LUX-BIOSENSORS AND METAL ACCUMULATION

In the present study, it was aimed to assess of the quality of fish grown in a recirculation aquaculture system (RAS). For this purpose, three sturgeon species especially Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Acipenser baerii, and Acipenser stellatus were investigated. Concentrations of certain metals (Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, Fe, Ni) in gills, liver and muscle samples were examined. Metal concentrations in Acipenser gueldenstaedtii were; Fe:172.43-196.52 mu g g(-1), Cd: 0.21-0.33 mu g g(-1,) Cu: 29.65-45.11.mu g g(-1), Ni: 0.52-0.86 mu g g(-1), Pb: 14.24-19.63 mu g g(-1), and Zn: 60.13-88.15 mu g g(-1). In Acipenser baerii, metal concentrations were; Fe: 151.47-182.32 mu g g(-1), Cd: 0.18-0.36 mu g g(-1), Cu: 27.17-38.52 mu g g(-1), Ni: 0.72-0.98 mu g g(-1), Pb:16.45-25.16 mu g g(-1), and Zn: 72.14-95.41 Concentrations in Acipenser stellatus were; Fe: 206.39-262.38 mu g g(-1), Cd: 0.26-0.39 mu g g(-1) Cu:30.26-55.63 mu g g(-1), Ni: 0.54-0.87 mu g g(-1), Pb:14.36-21.51 mu g g(-1), and Zn: 53.52-82.15 In general, the highest metal levels were found in Acipenser baerii. Negative biological effects caused by the presence of various toxicants in fish tissues were studied with bacterial lux-biosensors. These assays revealed that the accumulation of genotoxicants, oxidative stressors, and substances causing damage to proteins and membranes mainly occurred in gills and to a smaller extent in liver. Acipenser baerii showed the highest accumulation of toxic substances according to the bacterial luxbiosensor assays.