DNA Damage in Fish Due to Pesticide Pollution

Abstract

Toxic contaminants, including pesticides, microplastics, and heavy metals, have a significant impact on aquatic life and other aquatic species. These pollutants come from anthropogenic sources such as crop growing, industrial operations, effluent, residential wastewater, and leaching, as well as environmental events like storms, floods, and seismic processes. Pesticides, particularly pesticides, have been shown to have detrimental effects on aquatic ecology, causing decreased growth, restricted larvae and embryo development, and dysfunction in primary organs like the gill, liver, kidney, and gonad. Genotoxicity from pesticide exposure raises safety concerns, as prolonged exposure can lead to oxidative stress, mutagenicity, and cellular apoptosis. Pesticide exposure can lead to elevated levels, even without measurable concentrations in biological matrices. The toxicity of pesticides directly affects aquatic life, leading to high mortality rates or the complete elimination of species that serve as their food source.To maintain the well-being of aquatic organisms, particularly fish, and protect aquatic ecosystems, it is crucial to investigate safe, acceptable, and efficient alternatives to pesticides. In this study, we focuses on the hematological, biochemical, and histopathological changes induced by pesticide exposure and highlights strategies for mitigating the adverse impacts of pesticides on fish. Further investigation is needed to determine species suitability for toxicity detection, an essential aspect of monitoring aquatic environments for agricultural pesticides.