DETERMINATION OF VETERINARY DRUG RESIDUES IN SEA WATER, SEDIMENT, AND NATURAL FISH IN THE AEGEAN SEA

BAYDAN, Emine/0000-0001-5459-8616; ALTINTAS, Levent/0000-0002-5148-723X; AYDIN, FARAH GONUL/0000-0002-0068-2078; Yurdakok-Dikmen, Begum/0000-0002-0385-3602WOS: 000349805300011In this research, residues of certain veterinary drugs (florfenicol (FF) and florfenicol amine (FFA)) were screened in natural fish, sediment, and seawater samples of the Aegean Sea, while only chloramphenicol (CAP) was searched for in the sediment. Samples were collected from fish farming cages in selected coordinates (Bodrum, Salihli Region, Turkey) on September, October 2011 and March, April 2012. Method validation and analyses were carried out by HPLC method. For FF; LOD values were 25.11 ppb for sea water, 27.07 ppb for sediment as well as 38.16 and 37.95 ppb for Mullus barbatus and Oblada tnelanura fish samples. FFA value for Mullus barbatus was 39.60 ppb, respectively. For CAP in sediment samples, LOD values were found as 53.59 ppb. In 4 different sampling areas (A, B, C, D), the lowest temperature was recorded as 14 degrees C in March 2012 but the highest was 28.3 degrees C in October 2011; the lowest dissolved oxygen (mg/L) values were detected in March 2012 (from 6.05 to 6.44), the highest in October 2011(10.78-11.55). The pH values slightly varied month by month; the lowest was 7.9 and the highest 8.6. This research revealed that dissolved oxygen and pH values of the collected seawater samples were in accordance with the normal limits of the offshore seawater values; no significant residue of the analyzed veterinary drugs was found to be present, and all values were found to be lower than LOD values in the sampled fish farms. In conclusion; there was no pollution caused by veterinary drugs.General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policy (GDAR), Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock [TAGEM 10/AR-GE/20]This study was granted by General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policy (GDAR), Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, with the project number: TAGEM 10/AR-GE/20