The Use of Astacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz, 1823) as a Test Species for Toxicity Evaluation of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluents

Abstract

This study evaluated the responses of biochemical biomarkers in <em>Astacus leptodactylus</em> exposed to treated municipal effluents discharged into Keban Dam Lake, Elazığ Elazig, Turkey. <em>A. leptodatyclus</em> were exposed to treated municipal effluents and Catalase (CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and lipid peroxidation (TBARS), glutathione (GSH) levels were measured as oxidative stress biomarkers. SOD activity was increased after exposing to treated municipal effluents for 24^thand 96^th h. CAT activities were decreased from 25.29 to 14.12 nmol/min/ml compared to control in the group exposed to treated municipal effluents for 24 h but it increased after 96 h exposure. GSH levels were decreased from 9.08 to 3.77 µM compared to control, but MDA levels were increased both at 24 ^th h and 96 ^th h after exposure to treated municipal effluents. CAT, SOD activities and MDA and GSH levels in the hepatopancreas of <em>A. leptodactylus</em> are sensitive and suitable biochemical biomarkers for evaluating the toxicity of the treated municipal effluent complex mixtures. Treated municipal effluents exposure was found to cause sub-lethal responses in <em>A. leptodactylus </em>suggesting oxidative stress.