Induced-Toxicity of Pesticides on Edible Freshwater Fishes in Pakistan: A Review.

Pesticides are extensively used throughout the world in industrial, health sector for agriculture and domestic purposes. Despite beneficial effect, these pesticides when released into the environment lead to induced toxicity in a large number of non-target organisms. Some of these are non-biodegradable and are persistently present in environment leading to environmental pollution. These chemicals eventually reach aquatic bodies and cause various histopathological, hematological, bio-chemical and enzymatic alterations in the bodies of aquatic organisms, especially fish, leading to huge economic loss. Consumption of the affected fishes also poses a serious health threat to humans. Pakistan being an agricultural country uses a variety of pesticides to protect its crops. The use of pesticides has substantially increased in Pakistan over the last decades, which when reach the water bodies, adversely affect the rich biodiversity found in aquatic systems of Pakistan. This review discusses research over past decades regarding toxic effects of pesticides induced in edible f reshwater fishes of Pakistan and future considerations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]