Toxicity of Malathon On the Common Indian Catfish

Abstract

Environmental degradation and its related problems have affected and also attracted attention of every nation of the world. One of the most important environmental problems is excess use of chemicals and pesticides. Pesticides are one of the most potentially harmful toxic chemicals introduced into the environment. Though they have contributed considerably to human welfare, their adverse effects on non – target organisms are quite significant. A variety of toxic pesticides which pose a potential direct threat to fresh water organisms, particularly to sensitive animals, such as fish. Fishes are very sensitive to the changes in their aquatic environments that’s why they are known as the bio – indicator species to monitor the water pollution. Organophophates pesticides are widely used amidst various group of pesticide in intensive agricultural practices to protect the crops from various pest and diseases owing to their high insecticidal property. Investigation of effects of toxic organophosphates pesticides such as malathion (   ) on common Indian catfish “Heteropneustes fossilis” has diagnostic significance in evaluation of negative effects of pesticides to human health. Malathion, one of the most extensively studied pesticides, may induce many significant changes in catfish. Present study is aimed to review the toxicological effects on catfish exposed to the organophosphate pesticide malathion resulting different alterations at different parameters.