Investigation of mutagenic properties of Çıldır Lake water

In this study, the mutagenic properties of water taken from Çıldır Lake, located in the Çıldır district of Ardahan province, were investigated using the Ames test at four different stations. The aim of the study is to identify the presence and source of mutagenic effects that may have carcinogenic effects on humans consuming organisms from the lake, thereby affecting the lake ecosystem. If mutagenic effects are detected in the lake water, these findings will pave the way for more comprehensive studies. Additionally, this study aims to pave the way for future research aimed at eliminating carcinogenic effects in the lake ecosystem and human health. In the AMES test, 100 µl samples were taken from each station. The experiments were conducted using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains without metabolic activation (S9). In mutagenicity studies, mutagenic effects were observed on the TA100 strain in samples obtained from the 3rd station in 2022, while no effects were observed on the TA98 strain. However, in the waters taken in 2023, no effects were observed on the TA98 strain, but mutagenic effects were detected on the TA100 strain in all stations.