Biochemical Effects of Pesticide Contaminated Drinking Water on Lipid Peroxidation and Free-Radical Scavenger

In agriculture, pesticides are commonly used for achieving better quality prouducts, increased production rate and controling pest population. However, they also lead to generation of reactive oxygen species ROS such as hydrogenperoxide H2O2 , superoxide O2-• , and hydroxyl •OH radicals, which have harmful effect on human health. Eachyear about 15000 tons of fertilizer and 500 tons of pesticides contaminate the groundwater of Büyükkabaca whereagriculture and fruit growing are commonly widespread. The drinking water of Büyükkabaca is obtained from 2 aquiferswhich are 150 m below surface of this plain. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the biochemical effects ofBüyükkabaca’s drinking water on oxidant/antioxidant system in the blood, brain, liver and kidney of the rats. The levelof thiobarbituric acid reacting substances and activities of superoxide dismutase SOD and glutathione peroxidase GSH-Px were increased and GSH level and catalase CAT activity only in blood and brain were decreased in theexperimental group of rats. The present results suggest that free radicals like superoxide and peroxyl radicals formedas a result of excessive ethion level determined in Büyükkabaca’s drinking water can be responsible for the incresasein LPO and alteration in antioxidative defence mechanisms. Therefore, further studies are needed to investigate theeffect of the increased lipid peroxidation on human health in this region

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