Oxidative Stress Response to Zinc Oxide, Copper Oxide and Iron (III) Oxide in Gammarus pulex; [Gammarus pulex'te Çinko Oksit, Bakır Oksit ve Demir (III) Oksit'e Karşı Oksidatif Stres Tepkisi]

Nanoparticles (NPs) are increasingly used across various fields of science and technology, including food science from crop harvesting to final food consumption. With their widespread application in daily life, the environmental effects of nanoparticles have become an important area of academic investigation. In this study, Gammarus pulex species was selected as research material/bioindicator species to investigate the effects of zinc oxide (ZnO), copper oxide (CuO), and iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3) on aquatic life. To conduct the experiments, separate setups were established for each of the nanoparticles (ZnO, CuO, and α-Fe2O3). Following ten organisms for each concentration group (10, 20, and 40 ppm) with corresponding control groups, exposures were performed for 24 and 96 hours. Samples were collected at both time points and biochemical analyses were conducted using homogenization procedures. The results were evaluated statistically. According to the findings, SOD activity increased significantly after exposure to ZnO, CuO, and Fe2O3. CAT activity did not show any change under ZnO NP exposure, whereas a decrease was observed under CuO and Fe2O3 NP exposures. However, a significant increase in TBARS levels and a significant increase in GSH levels were observed following nanoparticle exposure. Based on the study data, exposure to ZnO, CuO, and Fe2O3 appears to induce oxidative stress in G. pulex.