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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Pollution Prevention, Mitigation and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 9148

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Muhammed Atamanalp

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Fisheries, Atatürk University, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey
Interests: aquatic toxicology; water pollution; microplastic pollution

Dr. Arzu Uçar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Faculty of Fisheries, Atatürk University, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey
Interests: fish behavior; aquatic toxicology; water pollution

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The continuous increase in the variety and amount of chemicals used with the developing technology increases the contamination levels in aquatic ecosystems. In addition to the increase in environmental awareness, the direct/indirect effects of these chemicals on people lead researchers to work in this area. Although much research had been done on aquatic ecosystems, which are one of the most important components of the earth, a large number of studies are required to determine the effects of new chemicals/pollutants on different aquatic organisms. The high biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems makes this imperative by accelerating. In addition to being species-based, these studies must also be carried out at different life stages (egg, larva, adult) of that species. Not only taking into account the place of organisms in the food chain but also the potential of reaching to the human as an end consumer and the risk potentials that will pose on the human should also be determined. Considering all these, it is aimed to produce a Special Issue as “Pollution and Toxicology of Aquatic Ecosystems”.

The topics that are planned to be brought together in this Special Issue are; terrestrial pollutants reaching aquatic ecosystems, water pollution, effects of different pollutants on different aquatic organisms, recommendations for reducing harmful effects, etc.

Prof. Dr. Muhammed Atamanalp
Dr. Arzu Uçar
Guest Editors

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Keywords

aquatic toxicology
water pollution and fish behavior
aquatic ecosystems

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 3430 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Use of Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) as a Sentinel Species for the Microplastic Pollution of Freshwater: The Case of Beyhan Dam Lake, Turkey

by Muhammed Atamanalp, Mine Kokturk, Fatih Gündüz, Veysel Parlak, Arzu Ucar, Duried Alwazeer and Gonca Alak

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1422; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15021422 - 11 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1938

Abstract

The presence of microplastics (MPs) in several components of different ecosystems has aroused great concern and led to numerous studies on MP pollution. Although there has been an increasing number of these studies in aquatic ecosystems, no data about the MP pollution in zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha, Pallas 1771) living in Beyhan dam lake (Elazığ, Türkiye) are available. This study aimed to investigate the presence of MPs in freshwater mussel species found in this water reservoir. The distribution and characterization of MPs were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in zebra mussel (D. polymorpha) samples at four different stations. A significant difference in the MP presence between the 1st and 4th stations was observed (p < 0.05). A total of 52 MPs were determined in mussels collected from different stations in Beyhan Dam Lake. A total of 18 MPs of this total (1.80 ± 0.92 MP/individual) were obtained in station 1 and 7 of them (0.70 ± 0.82 MP/individual) were from the 4th station. Results of the MP investigation showed that the dominant color was black, the common size range was 1001–2000 µm, the dominant polymer shape was fiber, and the main polymer type was polypropylene (PP). A positive correlation was found among total MP and factors (length, tissue weight, and MP/individual). The detection of MPs in a freshwater mussel of the Beyhan dam lake can be suggested as a threat indicator and offers the possibility of using D. polymorpha as a bioindicator in the aquatic ecosystems’ MP pollution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollution and Toxicology of Aquatic Ecosystems)

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17 pages, 2260 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Municipal Wastewater Effects on the Performance of Nutrient Removal, and Lipid, Carbohydrate, and Protein Productivity of Blue-Green Algae Chroococcus turgidus

by Goknur Sisman-Aydin and Kemal Simsek

Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 17021; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142417021 - 19 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2350

Abstract

The use of microalgae in wastewater treatment (WWT) is seen as a promising and sustainable alternative to conventional WWTs, and the obtained biomass is gaining importance as a bio-product. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of using municipal wastewater (MWW) as a nutritional supplement for the cultivation of the cyanobacteria Chroococcus turgidus (Kützing) Nägeli 1849 and the pollutant removal potential of the microalgae. The WW received from the different treatment stages (primary, secondary, and final effluent) was applied to the microalgae culture, and algal growth was compared with regard to growth rate, nutrient removal efficiency, and final algal lipid (%) and protein (%) content. In 7-day batch experiments, except for BOD₅ analysis, COD, PO₄-P, and N forms analyses were carried out daily in parallel with in vivo Chl-a and Chl-b, DO, pH, temperature, and conductivity measurements. The growth rates and Chl-a quotas of the microalgae grown in trials were different, and the highest growth rate was with a 1.03 ± 0.06 d⁻¹ in the primary effluent (PE). The highest Chl-a and Chl-b quotas among WW trials of microalgae were obtained from the PE trial as 252.4 ± 2 µg L⁻¹ and 112 ± 18 µgL⁻¹, respectively. NH₄-N, NO₃-N, NO₂-N, PO₄-P, BOD₅, and COD treatment efficiencies were in the ranges of (74.6–83%), (16–71.2%), (22.2–63.6%), (89–95.3%), (50–76.2%), and (70.3–78.6%), respectively. The microalgae were observed to accumulate the highest lipid (28.05 ± 2.26%DW) content in secondary effluent (SE), the highest carbohydrate (43.93 ± 1.02%DW) content in the effluent (E), and the highest protein content (35.25 ± 1.22%DW) in the PE. The results of this study suggested that C. turgidus is a new candidate for bioremediate pollution load of MWW, and its biomass has the potential to offer options in bio-product applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollution and Toxicology of Aquatic Ecosystems)

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18 pages, 2299 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of the Phycoremediation Potential of Freshwater Green Algae Golenkinia radiata for Municipal Wastewater

by Goknur Sisman-Aydin and Kemal Simsek

Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 15705; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142315705 - 25 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2077

Abstract

Recent developments in the removal of pollutants from wastewater show that phycoremediation to wastewater treatment and reuse wastewater may provide sustainable biosolutions. This work investigated the performance of the green microalgae Golenkinia radiata Chodat 1984 (Chlorophyceae) in terms of N, P, and COD removal at different treatment stages of municipal wastewater, reusability of remediated wastewater and wastewater-based biomass production. Water samples were taken from different wastewater units (presettling basin effluent, active sludge basin effluent, and discharge channel) of a municipal wastewater treatment plant (İzmir, Turkey). In the 7-day experiments, Chl-a, Chl-b, DO, pH, and T (°C) were also measured alongside the pollutant analyses. The results in Chl-a (1803 ± 75.9 µg L⁻¹) and biomass yield (7.66 ± 0.05 g L⁻¹) in the primary effluent (P) were quite impressive. Additionally, the results showed that the correlation between the increase in Chl-a and the residual concentrations of pollutants was remarkable. NH₄-N, NO₃-N, NO₂-N, PO₄-P, and COD treatment efficiencies were in the ranges of (74.6–83.0%), (15.35–70.4%), (0.00–47.22%), (80.67–86.27%), and (77.22–87.53%), respectively. The final concentrations of pollutants (E) were found to comply with EU legislation. The results also reveal that green microalgae G. radiata may be a strong candidate for microalgae-based wastewater treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollution and Toxicology of Aquatic Ecosystems)

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18 pages, 3376 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interaction of Microplastic Presence and Oxidative Stress in Freshwater Fish: A Regional Scale Research, East Anatolia of Türkiye (Erzurum & Erzincan & Bingöl)

by Muhammed Atamanalp, Mine Kokturk, Mahinur Kırıcı, Arzu Ucar, Muammer Kırıcı, Veysel Parlak, Ahmet Aydın and Gonca Alak

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12009; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su141912009 - 22 Sep 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2028

Abstract

The presence of microplastic (MP) in different fish species taken from stations in Erzurum, Erzincan and Bingöl was examined. The obtained data were classified and shared with the scientific world as the first record made in this region. In the obtained results, the most dominant color was black (39–58%) and the most prevalent forms were fragment and fiber. The sizes (0–50, 50–100 µm) of microplastics differed according to the region and species. When the number of MPs in the gastrointestinal systems of different fish species in the Bingöl, Erzurum and Erzincan provinces was evaluated, the most microplastics were found in Squalius squalus (20.7%) and Blicca bjoerkna (18.2%) in Bingöl province from among six different species. In Erzincan province, four fish species were sampled, and the rates were (29.7%) in Capoeta umbla and (26.6%) in Blicca bjoerkna. The highest abundance in Erzurum province was determined in Cyprinus carpio (53.0%). In the analyses performed on liver tissues, the highest ROS, which is the indicator of oxidative damage, was listed as Bingöl > Erzincan > Erzurum, while MDA levels were recorded as Bingöl > Erzurum > Erzincan, from high to low. When the differences between species were examined, the highest SOD and CAT activity was determined in the Mugil cephalus species. Considering the total MP numbers in fish samples, 47 MP was determined in this species. On the other hand, in the Squalius squalus species, where the highest total MP was determined, SOD and CAT activities were found to be low in Bingöl province. Therewithal, the high levels of ROS and MDA in this species can be said to induce oxidative stress due to the presence of microplastics on the one hand and to reduce antioxidant levels on the other hand. When the findings were evaluated, it was concluded that MPs in freshwater are a potential stressor, and freshwater environments may represent a critical target habitat for future MP removal and remediation strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollution and Toxicology of Aquatic Ecosystems)

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