Agricultural Pesticide-Induced Physiological Stresses in Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh

Md. Mohibul Hasan; Shayla Sultana Mely

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijee.20240902.12

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Agricultural Pesticide-Induced Physiological Stresses in Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh

Md. Mohibul Hasan^*

, Shayla Sultana Mely

Published in International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology (Volume 9, Issue 2)

Received: 23 May 2024 Accepted: 19 June 2024 Published: 29 July 2024

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Abstract

In Bangladesh, most croplands are situated in floodplains, enriched by numerous rivers and extensive freshwater wetlands. These areas also support productive open-water fisheries, crucial for supplying protein, generating income, creating jobs, and boosting the GDP. However, the widespread use of pesticides in these floodplains to protect crops and enhance food production leads to significant environmental issues. Agricultural pesticide residues enter water bodies through runoff, rainwater, drainage, seepage, and spray drift, contaminating natural water bodies and exerting continuous stress on aquatic life, including fish. Previous studies have detected pesticide residues in surface waters, sediments, and fish in Bangladesh, posing a major threat to wetland ecosystems. Research on freshwater fish species in Bangladesh has highlighted toxic effects on fish gonads, such as adhesion, inter-follicular space degeneration, ovigerous lamellae degeneration, necrosis, degenerated perinucleolar oocytes, cytoplasmic retraction in ovaries, and damage to sertoli cells. Additional observed effects include irregularly shaped seminiferous tubules, breakage of seminiferous tubules, and empty lumens in testes. Pesticides also inflict harm on other internal organs of fish, with gill effects like clubbing, reduction of gill filaments, telangiectasia of gill lamellae, hemorrhage, and damage to gill rakers. Kidney and liver damage include necrosis, cellular tissue degradation, acute cellular swelling, and irregular renal corpuscles, along with autolysis, vacuolation, and fatty changes in the liver. Developing embryos and larvae of freshwater fish are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of agro-pesticides. Studies reveal acute toxicity during early life stages, evidenced by deformities like edema, notochord deformity, caudal fin damage, yolk sac damage, posterior region damage, tissue fragmentation, black pigmentation on the yolk, body curvature, and lordosis in larvae. Exposed embryos exhibit deformities such as dark brown yolk sacs, notochord deformities, and broken eggshells. Mortality rates of fish embryos and larvae escalate with higher pesticide concentrations in water. Haemato-biochemical parameters serve as crucial indicators of pesticide exposure in fish studies, showing alterations in blood hemoglobin, glucose, RBC, WBC counts, and various erythrocytic abnormalities like twin cells, fusion, echinocyte formation, spindle-shaped, tear-drop, and elongated cells. Nuclear abnormalities include binucleated cells, nuclear buds, nuclear bridges, karyopyknosis, and notched nuclei. Research suggests that even at low concentrations, agro-pesticides disrupt physiological functions and life history traits of fish, adversely impacting the natural productivity and biodiversity of freshwater fish in Bangladesh.

Published in	International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology (Volume 9, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijee.20240902.12
Page(s)	88-93
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Agro-pesticide, Physiological Stress, Freshwater Fish, Deformity, Development

1. Introduction

Bangladesh is a leading producer of inland fisheries globally, with a production of 1,646,819 tonnes during 2003–2004

[1]

. During the same period, marine catch totaled 455,601 tonnes, and aquaculture contributed 914,752 tonnes, resulting in a total fish production of over 2.1 million tonnes for the year

[2]

. According to FAO (2005), Bangladesh was ranked as the sixth-largest aquaculture producing country, with an estimated production of 856,956 tonnes in 2003.

Aquaculture accounted for approximately 43.5 percent of the total fish production during 2003–2004, while inland open water fisheries contributed 34.8 percent

[2]

. Fisheries in Bangladesh boast a diverse range of species, including approximately 795 native species of fish and shrimp in both fresh and marine waters, alongside 12 introduced exotic species. Additionally, there are 10 species of pearl-bearing bivalves, 12 species of edible tortoise and turtle, 15 species of crab, and 3 species of lobster

[1]

Among them, 54 species of fish in Bangladesh's inland waters are considered either to be endangered or to be critically endangered situation due to loosing suitability of aquatic habitat and breeding grounds

[1]

. Environmental pollutants enter aquatic ecosystems through various ways and adversely affect fish breeding grounds as well as the early life stage, by which fish are directly or indirectly impacted. More than 80% of the people depend on agriculture for their living in Bangladesh

[2]

. Owing to rapid population growth, food security needs, land scarcity, and agricultural intensification are quickly becoming issues of pressing importance to grow food under harsh conditions. Pesticide consumption increased more than 5 times (from 7,350 to 38,692) in the past decade from 1992 to 2018

[3]

. These toxic chemicals enter into the aquatic ecosystem through drain, runoff and spray drift, which lead to the contamination of aquatic systems and affect aquatic organisms. This study aims to summarize the physiological stress induced by agro-pesticides in freshwater fishes in Bangladesh. It will particularly highlight the acute, chronic, and developmental toxic effects caused by agro-pesticide contamination.

2. Environmental Monitoring of Agro-pesticide Study in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, a large number of pesticides are used to protect crops in the agricultural sector. Sprayed pesticides enter destinations other than their target species, including non-target species, water, bottom sediments and aquatic food chain. With the aim of environmental monitoring, a study was conducted in Baitkamari (Table 1) and Pirijpur beel of north-west Bangladesh. From this research, the most commonly found pesticides that existed at high concentrations were chlorpyrifos, diazinon and quinalphos in surface water and sediment

[4]

. Suspended sediment adsorbs pesticides from running water in the Beel and deposits on the bed. This pesticide deposition in the bottom sediment can have a long-term effect on the bio-community through the food chain. In particular, benthic invertivore fish are in threat, as they consume bottom feed. Another study was conducted in Rangpur floodplain including Mulatol Beel, Nilkunja Beel, Chikli Beel and Ghaghot River to identify bioaccumulation of pesticide residue in fish. In this study, Endrin was detected from taki fish (Channa punctatus) with a residual concentration was 0.043ppm

[5]

. These carnivores are fish species found in mud and prefer stagnant water.

Table 1. Residues of agro-pesticides found in surface water from environmental monitoring studies in Bangladesh. (dry season)

[4]

Pesticide	Concentration range
Acephate	n.d-0.6 ppb
Chlorpyrifos	n.d-5.2 ppb
Diazinon	n.d-6.9 ppb
Dimethoate	n.d-2.0 ppb
Ethion	n.d-0.9 ppb
Fenitrothion	n.d-3.1 ppb
Fenthion	n.d-2.9 ppb
Malathion	n.d-2.0 ppb
Methyl-parathion	n.d-2.4 ppb
Quinalphos	n.d-6.0 ppb

Table 2. Residues of agro-pesticides found in surface water from environmental monitoring studies in Bangladesh. (wet season)

[4]

Pesticide	Concentration range
Acephate	n.d-1.0 ppb
Chlorpyrifos	n.d-3.1 ppb
Diazinon	n.d-9.0 ppb
Dimethoate	n.d-2.0 ppb
Ethion	n.d-0.8 ppb
Fenitrothion	n.d-1.0 ppb
Fenthion	n.d-2.0 ppb
Malathion	n.d-1.8 ppb
Methyl-parathion	n.d-2.0 ppb
Quinalphos	n.d-3.4 ppb

Table 3. Residues of agro-pesticides found in sediment from environmental monitoring studies in Bangladesh. (dry season)

[4]

Pesticide	Concentration range
Acephate	n.d-1.7 ppb
Chlorpyrifos	n.d-39.0 ppb
Diazinon	n.d-15.0 ppb
Dimethoate	n.d-3.9 ppb
Ethion	n.d-2.4 ppb
Fenitrothion	n.d-5.8 ppb
Fenthion	n.d-7.8 ppb
Malathion	n.d-7.7 ppb
Methyl-parathion	n.d-4.7 ppb
Quinalphos	n.d-8.7 ppb

Table 4. Residues of agro-pesticides found in sediment from environmental monitoring studies in Bangladesh. (wet season)

[4]

Pesticide	Concentration range
Acephate	n.d-10.3 ppb
Chlorpyrifos	n.d-45.0 ppb
Diazinon	n.d-51.0 ppb
Dimethoate	n.d-21.0 ppb
Ethion	n.d-5.4 ppb
Fenitrothion	n.d-7.2 ppb
Fenthion	n.d-21.4 ppb
Malathion	n.d-5.7 ppb
Methyl-parathion	n.d-2.8 ppb
Quinalphos	n.d-4.2 ppb

3. Impact of Agro-pesticides in Different Life Stages of Fish in Bangladesh

3.1. Early Life Stage (Embryo and Larvae)

In fish, life begins with the union of male and female gametes. Once the egg is fertilized by the sperm, a zygote is formed, initiating embryonic development which continues until hatching. After hatching, the larvae undergo organogenesis and develop into their adult forms, completing the larval stages. According to Marimuthu et al.

[6]

, embryonic and larval fish are at their most sensitive stages and are highly vulnerable to environmental pollutants such as pesticides

[6]

No studies have been found that identify malformations in embryos and larvae immediately after collection from contaminated aquatic areas. Most research has been conducted in the laboratory (in vivo) to identify toxic effects on early-stage fish

[6]	Marimuthu, K., Muthu, N., Xavier, R., Arockiaraj, J., Rahman, M. A., & Subramaniam, S. (2013). Toxicity of Buprofezin on the Survival of Embryo and Larvae of African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Bloch). PLoS ONE, 8(10), 4–9. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0075545 View Article
[7]	Hasan M. M., Sumon, K. A., Siddiquee, M. A. M., Rashid, H., 2022. Thiamethoxam affects the developmental stages of banded gourami (Trichogaster fasciata). Toxicology Reports, 9, 1233-1239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2022.05.017 View Article
[8]	Hasan M. M, Uddin, M. H., Islam, M. J., Bishwas, S., Sumon, K. A., Prodhan, M. D. H., Rashid, H., 2022. Histopathological Alterations in Liver and Kidney Tissues of Banded Gourami (Trichogaster fasciata) Exposed to Thiamethoxam. Aquaculture Studies, 23 (1), 39. https://doi.org/10.4194/AQUAST939 View Article
[9]	Hasan M. M., Hasan, K., Khayer, M. A., Rashid, H., 2019. Inhibition of Protease Enzyme Activity of Daphnia magna from the Cyanobacterium Microcystis Sp. Strain BM 25 Extracts. Global Veterinaria. 21 (4), 165-171. https://doi.org/10.5829/idosi.gv.2019.165.171 View Article
[10]	Hasan M. M, Hasan, K., Khayer, A., 2019. Extraction Optimization and Quantification of Chymotrypsin Inhibitors from Cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa NIVA Cya43 Using LC/MS. American-Eurasian Journal of Toxicological Sciences, 11 (1), 21-28. https://doi.org/10.5829/idosi.aejts.2019.21.28 View Article
[11]	Hasan M. M, Hasan, M. M., Uddin, M. H. Sumon, K. A., Amin, A., Rashid, H., 2021. Histopathological alterations in the gills of banded gourami (Trichogaster faciata) exposed to thiamethoxam. Bangladesh Journal of Fisheries, 33 (1), 49-56. https://doi.org/ 10.52168/bjf.2021.33.06 View Article
[12]	Hasan M. M, Sarker, B. S., Nazrul, K. M. S., Rahman, M. M., Mamun, A. A., 2012. Marketing channel and export potentiality of freshwater mud eel (Monopterus cuchia) of Noakhali region in Bangladesh. International Journal of Life Sciences Biotechnology and Pharma Research, 1 (3), 226–233.
[13]	Mian M. S., Hasan, M. M., Khayer, A. Habib, M. A., 2019. Effects on the Growth Performance and Survival Rate of Pangasius hypophthalamus in Different Feeding Rate of Complete Diet. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research, 27 (1), 39–54. https://doi.org/10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2019.39.54 View Article

[6-13]

. Indigenous, ornamental, and exotic fish species in Bangladesh were used as model organisms to study the developmental toxicity of agro-pesticides. The findings of these studies indicate that pesticides are more toxic to fish during their early stages compared to their adult stages. Various malformations, LC50 values, and incubation periods were observed in embryos and larvae exposed to pesticides (Tables 5-7). A decreasing trend in hatching success was noted with higher pesticide exposure

[14]

, and fries often died soon after hatching

[15]

. This could be due to the disruption of the hatching enzyme.

During the normal hatching process of fish embryos, the chorion is digested by a proteolytic enzyme secreted from the embryo's hatching gland cells

[16]

. Pesticides may inhibit the structure and function of this enzyme, blocking the pore canals of the chorion and resulting in oxygen deprivation.

Table 5. An overview of the acute toxicity of agro-pesticides on various life stages of different fish species in Bangladesh, focusing on malformations

[17-19]

Pesticides	Species	Malformations
Cypermethrin	M. cavasius (Gangetic Mystus)	Eggs: dark-brown yolk sac, broken egg shell, notochord abnormality and unhatched eggs. Larvae: broken notochord, yolk-sac edema, body arcuation, lordosis and irregular caudal region
Diazinon	H. fossilis (Stinging Catfish)	Eggs: degeneration of eggs Larvae: edema, deformed body structure, curved notochord, deformed mouth, jaw and caudal fin, damaged caudal fin
Chlorpyrifos	T. fasciata (Banded Gourami)	Eggs: unhatched eggs Larvae: Irregular head and eye shape, lordosis, body arcuation, caudal fin damage and notochordal abnormality
Sumithion	H. fossilis (Stinging Catfish)	Larvae: irregular head shape, lordosis, yolk sac edema, body arcuation, tissue ulceration

Table 6. An overview of the acute toxicity of agro-pesticides on various life stages of different fish species in Bangladesh, with a focus on endpoints

[17-19]

Pesticides	Species	Endpoint	LC₅₀ (μg/L)
Cypermethrin	M. cavasius (Gangetic Mystus)	Mortality (72h)	5.60 6.12
Diazinon	H. fossilis (Stinging Catfish)	Mortality (96h)	n.d
Chlorpyrifos	T. fasciata (Banded Gourami)	Mortality (48h)	11.8
Sumithion	H. fossilis (Stinging Catfish)	Mortality (120h)	n.d

Table 7. An overview of the acute toxicity of agro-pesticides on various life stages of different fish species in Bangladesh, including the incubation period

[17-19]

Pesticides	Species	Life stage	Incubation
Pesticides	Species	Life stage	period
Cypermethrin	M. cavasius	Eggs	19-29h
	(Gangetic Mystus)	Larvae	(increased)
		(1-day old)
Diazinon	H. fossilis	Eggs	n.d
	(Stinging Catfish)	Larvae
		(1-day old)
Chlorpyrifos	T. fasciata	Eggs	23-30h 30
	(Banded Gourami)	Larvae	min
		(2-day old)	(increased)
Sumithion	H. fossilis	Larvae	n.d
Sumithion	(Stinging Catfish)	(1-day old)	n.d

3.2. Adult Fish

Both acute and chronic toxicity studies were conducted on adult and semi-adult freshwater fishes to assess the toxic effects of agro-pesticides. The studies identified the median lethal concentration (LC50), as well as histopathological and hematological alterations in fish exposed to pesticides. Histological observations revealed various changes in fish gonads (ovary and testis), gills, liver, and kidney, while blood analysis showed abnormalities in parameters such as hemoglobin, glucose, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, as well as cellular and nuclear erythrocytic abnormalities

[17-19]

These studies involved different fish species, including banded gourami, stinging catfish, zebrafish, and tengra. Additionally, a study conducted on silver barb aimed to identify genetic damage and nuclear changes in peripheral erythrocytes at Bangladesh Agriculture University, Mymensingh

[7, 19]

. The results of this study indicated that exposure to pesticides led to erythrocytic cellular abnormalities (such as twin, fusion, echinocyte, spindle, tear drop, elongated shape, etc.), erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities (including binucleated cells, nuclear bud, nuclear bridge, karyopyknosis, notched nuclei, etc.), formation of micronuclei (MN), and DNA damage.

4. Conclusions

Studies conducted on various freshwater fish species in Bangladesh, exposed to a variety of pesticides, suggest that agro-pesticides can disrupt different physiological functions and life history characteristics of fish even at very low concentrations. This disruption negatively impacts the natural production and biodiversity of freshwater fish in Bangladesh. Additionally, the results of these studies could serve as a baseline for other researchers, as using indigenous fish species in Bangladesh as models can aid in assessing the acute, chronic, and developmental toxicity of pesticides.

Acknowledgments

We thank Al-Amin for his assistance with reviewing the works.

Author Contributions

Md. Mohibul Hasan: Conceptualization, Methodology, Supervision, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

Shayla Sultana Mely: Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Resources, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

Funding

There was no financial support for this research work.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Mostafa A. R. Hossain and Md. Abdul Wahab. The Diversity of Cypriniforms Throughout Bangladesh: Present Status and Conservation Challenge. 2009, 143-182.
[2]	Fishery Statistical Yearbook of Bangladesh 2003–2004." DoF 2005.
[3]	Bangladesh Crop Protection Association http://www.bcpabd.com/list-of-pesticide.php
[4]	Sumon, K. A., Rashid, H., Peeters, E. T. H. M., Bosma, R. H., & Van den Brink, P. J. (2018). Environmental monitoring and risk assessment of organophosphate pesticides in aquatic ecosystems of north-west Bangladesh. Chemosphere, 206, 92–100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.04.167
[5]	Zaman, M., Sultana, N., Husain, M., & Naser, M. N. (2016). Pesticide residue in fishes from Rangpur. Bangladesh Journal of Zoology, 44(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjz.v44i1.30172
[6]	Marimuthu, K., Muthu, N., Xavier, R., Arockiaraj, J., Rahman, M. A., & Subramaniam, S. (2013). Toxicity of Buprofezin on the Survival of Embryo and Larvae of African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Bloch). PLoS ONE, 8(10), 4–9. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0075545
[7]	Hasan M. M., Sumon, K. A., Siddiquee, M. A. M., Rashid, H., 2022. Thiamethoxam affects the developmental stages of banded gourami (Trichogaster fasciata). Toxicology Reports, 9, 1233-1239. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2022.05.017
[8]	Hasan M. M, Uddin, M. H., Islam, M. J., Bishwas, S., Sumon, K. A., Prodhan, M. D. H., Rashid, H., 2022. Histopathological Alterations in Liver and Kidney Tissues of Banded Gourami (Trichogaster fasciata) Exposed to Thiamethoxam. Aquaculture Studies, 23 (1), 39. https://doi.org/10.4194/AQUAST939
[9]	Hasan M. M., Hasan, K., Khayer, M. A., Rashid, H., 2019. Inhibition of Protease Enzyme Activity of Daphnia magna from the Cyanobacterium Microcystis Sp. Strain BM 25 Extracts. Global Veterinaria. 21 (4), 165-171. https://doi.org/10.5829/idosi.gv.2019.165.171
[10]	Hasan M. M, Hasan, K., Khayer, A., 2019. Extraction Optimization and Quantification of Chymotrypsin Inhibitors from Cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa NIVA Cya43 Using LC/MS. American-Eurasian Journal of Toxicological Sciences, 11 (1), 21-28. https://doi.org/10.5829/idosi.aejts.2019.21.28
[11]	Hasan M. M, Hasan, M. M., Uddin, M. H. Sumon, K. A., Amin, A., Rashid, H., 2021. Histopathological alterations in the gills of banded gourami (Trichogaster faciata) exposed to thiamethoxam. Bangladesh Journal of Fisheries, 33 (1), 49-56. https://doi.org/ 10.52168/bjf.2021.33.06
[12]	Hasan M. M, Sarker, B. S., Nazrul, K. M. S., Rahman, M. M., Mamun, A. A., 2012. Marketing channel and export potentiality of freshwater mud eel (Monopterus cuchia) of Noakhali region in Bangladesh. International Journal of Life Sciences Biotechnology and Pharma Research, 1 (3), 226–233.
[13]	Mian M. S., Hasan, M. M., Khayer, A. Habib, M. A., 2019. Effects on the Growth Performance and Survival Rate of Pangasius hypophthalamus in Different Feeding Rate of Complete Diet. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research, 27 (1), 39–54. https://doi.org/10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2019.39.54
[14]	Khan M. A., Hasan, M. M., Sumon, K. A., Rashid, H., 2020. Culture of freshwater zooplankton Daphnia magna fed with different feed com-bination. Bangladesh J. Fish, 32 (1), 55-59.
[15]	Sumon, K. A., Saha, S., van den Brink, P. J., Peeters, E. T. H. M., Bosma, R. H., & Rashid, H. (2017). Acute toxicity of chlorpyrifos to embryo and larvae of banded gourami Trichogaster fasciata. Journal of Environmental Science and Health - Part B, 52(2), 92–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601234.2016.1239979
[16]	Sharmin, S., Abdus Salam, M., Asadul Haque, M., & Shahjahan, M. (2014). Toxicity bioassay of organophosphorous pesticide malathion in common carp, Cyprinus carpio. Table 3, 99–100.
[17]	Tingjun, F., Zhenping S. (2002). Advances and prospect in fish hatching enzyme research. Transactions of Oceanology and Limnology, 1: 48-56.
[18]	Haque, S. M., Sarkar, C. C., Khatun, S., & Sumon, K. A. (2018). Toxic effects of agro-pesticide cypermethrin on histological changes of kidney in Tengra, Mystus tengara. Asian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 3(4), 494–498. https://doi.org/10.3329/ajmbr.v3i4.35340
[19]	Haque, S. M., Sarkar, C. C., & Sumon, K. A. (2018). Histopathological alterations in the liver architecture of Mystus tengara exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of cypermethrin. 30, 163–168.

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Hasan, M. M., Mely, S. S. (2024). Agricultural Pesticide-Induced Physiological Stresses in Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh. International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology, 9(2), 88-93. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20240902.12

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Hasan, M. M.; Mely, S. S. Agricultural Pesticide-Induced Physiological Stresses in Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh. Int. J. Ecotoxicol. Ecobiol. 2024, 9(2), 88-93. doi: 10.11648/j.ijee.20240902.12

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Hasan MM, Mely SS. Agricultural Pesticide-Induced Physiological Stresses in Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh. Int J Ecotoxicol Ecobiol. 2024;9(2):88-93. doi: 10.11648/j.ijee.20240902.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijee.20240902.12,
author = {Md. Mohibul Hasan and Shayla Sultana Mely},
title = {Agricultural Pesticide-Induced Physiological Stresses in Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh
},
journal = {International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology},
volume = {9},
number = {2},
pages = {88-93},
doi = {10.11648/j.ijee.20240902.12},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20240902.12},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijee.20240902.12},
abstract = {In Bangladesh, most croplands are situated in floodplains, enriched by numerous rivers and extensive freshwater wetlands. These areas also support productive open-water fisheries, crucial for supplying protein, generating income, creating jobs, and boosting the GDP. However, the widespread use of pesticides in these floodplains to protect crops and enhance food production leads to significant environmental issues. Agricultural pesticide residues enter water bodies through runoff, rainwater, drainage, seepage, and spray drift, contaminating natural water bodies and exerting continuous stress on aquatic life, including fish. Previous studies have detected pesticide residues in surface waters, sediments, and fish in Bangladesh, posing a major threat to wetland ecosystems. Research on freshwater fish species in Bangladesh has highlighted toxic effects on fish gonads, such as adhesion, inter-follicular space degeneration, ovigerous lamellae degeneration, necrosis, degenerated perinucleolar oocytes, cytoplasmic retraction in ovaries, and damage to sertoli cells. Additional observed effects include irregularly shaped seminiferous tubules, breakage of seminiferous tubules, and empty lumens in testes. Pesticides also inflict harm on other internal organs of fish, with gill effects like clubbing, reduction of gill filaments, telangiectasia of gill lamellae, hemorrhage, and damage to gill rakers. Kidney and liver damage include necrosis, cellular tissue degradation, acute cellular swelling, and irregular renal corpuscles, along with autolysis, vacuolation, and fatty changes in the liver. Developing embryos and larvae of freshwater fish are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of agro-pesticides. Studies reveal acute toxicity during early life stages, evidenced by deformities like edema, notochord deformity, caudal fin damage, yolk sac damage, posterior region damage, tissue fragmentation, black pigmentation on the yolk, body curvature, and lordosis in larvae. Exposed embryos exhibit deformities such as dark brown yolk sacs, notochord deformities, and broken eggshells. Mortality rates of fish embryos and larvae escalate with higher pesticide concentrations in water. Haemato-biochemical parameters serve as crucial indicators of pesticide exposure in fish studies, showing alterations in blood hemoglobin, glucose, RBC, WBC counts, and various erythrocytic abnormalities like twin cells, fusion, echinocyte formation, spindle-shaped, tear-drop, and elongated cells. Nuclear abnormalities include binucleated cells, nuclear buds, nuclear bridges, karyopyknosis, and notched nuclei. Research suggests that even at low concentrations, agro-pesticides disrupt physiological functions and life history traits of fish, adversely impacting the natural productivity and biodiversity of freshwater fish in Bangladesh.
},
year = {2024}
}

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SN  - 2575-1735
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20240902.12
AB  - In Bangladesh, most croplands are situated in floodplains, enriched by numerous rivers and extensive freshwater wetlands. These areas also support productive open-water fisheries, crucial for supplying protein, generating income, creating jobs, and boosting the GDP. However, the widespread use of pesticides in these floodplains to protect crops and enhance food production leads to significant environmental issues. Agricultural pesticide residues enter water bodies through runoff, rainwater, drainage, seepage, and spray drift, contaminating natural water bodies and exerting continuous stress on aquatic life, including fish. Previous studies have detected pesticide residues in surface waters, sediments, and fish in Bangladesh, posing a major threat to wetland ecosystems. Research on freshwater fish species in Bangladesh has highlighted toxic effects on fish gonads, such as adhesion, inter-follicular space degeneration, ovigerous lamellae degeneration, necrosis, degenerated perinucleolar oocytes, cytoplasmic retraction in ovaries, and damage to sertoli cells. Additional observed effects include irregularly shaped seminiferous tubules, breakage of seminiferous tubules, and empty lumens in testes. Pesticides also inflict harm on other internal organs of fish, with gill effects like clubbing, reduction of gill filaments, telangiectasia of gill lamellae, hemorrhage, and damage to gill rakers. Kidney and liver damage include necrosis, cellular tissue degradation, acute cellular swelling, and irregular renal corpuscles, along with autolysis, vacuolation, and fatty changes in the liver. Developing embryos and larvae of freshwater fish are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of agro-pesticides. Studies reveal acute toxicity during early life stages, evidenced by deformities like edema, notochord deformity, caudal fin damage, yolk sac damage, posterior region damage, tissue fragmentation, black pigmentation on the yolk, body curvature, and lordosis in larvae. Exposed embryos exhibit deformities such as dark brown yolk sacs, notochord deformities, and broken eggshells. Mortality rates of fish embryos and larvae escalate with higher pesticide concentrations in water. Haemato-biochemical parameters serve as crucial indicators of pesticide exposure in fish studies, showing alterations in blood hemoglobin, glucose, RBC, WBC counts, and various erythrocytic abnormalities like twin cells, fusion, echinocyte formation, spindle-shaped, tear-drop, and elongated cells. Nuclear abnormalities include binucleated cells, nuclear buds, nuclear bridges, karyopyknosis, and notched nuclei. Research suggests that even at low concentrations, agro-pesticides disrupt physiological functions and life history traits of fish, adversely impacting the natural productivity and biodiversity of freshwater fish in Bangladesh.

VL  - 9
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Md. Mohibul Hasan

Department of Agribusiness, Atish Dipankar University of Science & Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Biography: Md. Mohibul Hasan is an Assistant professor at Atish Dipankar University of Science & Technology, Agribusiness Department. He completed his PhD in Fisheries Management from Bangladesh Agricultural University in 2023, and his Master's was in Environmental Toxicology from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany in 2016.

Research Fields: Ecotoxicology, Fisheries, Environmental Pollution, Agricultural Pesticide, Microplastics

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9905-5711
Shayla Sultana Mely

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Research Fields: Ecotoxicology, Fisheries, Environmental Pollution, Agricultural Pesticide, Microplastics

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0007-1629-5033

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APA Style

Hasan, M. M., Mely, S. S. (2024). Agricultural Pesticide-Induced Physiological Stresses in Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh. International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology, 9(2), 88-93. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20240902.12

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ACS Style

Hasan, M. M.; Mely, S. S. Agricultural Pesticide-Induced Physiological Stresses in Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh. Int. J. Ecotoxicol. Ecobiol. 2024, 9(2), 88-93. doi: 10.11648/j.ijee.20240902.12

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AMA Style

Hasan MM, Mely SS. Agricultural Pesticide-Induced Physiological Stresses in Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh. Int J Ecotoxicol Ecobiol. 2024;9(2):88-93. doi: 10.11648/j.ijee.20240902.12

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Agricultural Pesticide-Induced Physiological Stresses in Freshwater Fishes of Bangladesh

AU  - Md. Mohibul Hasan
AU  - Shayla Sultana Mely
Y1  - 2024/07/29
PY  - 2024
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20240902.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijee.20240902.12
T2  - International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology
JF  - International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology
JO  - International Journal of Ecotoxicology and Ecobiology
SP  - 88
EP  - 93
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-1735
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijee.20240902.12
AB  - In Bangladesh, most croplands are situated in floodplains, enriched by numerous rivers and extensive freshwater wetlands. These areas also support productive open-water fisheries, crucial for supplying protein, generating income, creating jobs, and boosting the GDP. However, the widespread use of pesticides in these floodplains to protect crops and enhance food production leads to significant environmental issues. Agricultural pesticide residues enter water bodies through runoff, rainwater, drainage, seepage, and spray drift, contaminating natural water bodies and exerting continuous stress on aquatic life, including fish. Previous studies have detected pesticide residues in surface waters, sediments, and fish in Bangladesh, posing a major threat to wetland ecosystems. Research on freshwater fish species in Bangladesh has highlighted toxic effects on fish gonads, such as adhesion, inter-follicular space degeneration, ovigerous lamellae degeneration, necrosis, degenerated perinucleolar oocytes, cytoplasmic retraction in ovaries, and damage to sertoli cells. Additional observed effects include irregularly shaped seminiferous tubules, breakage of seminiferous tubules, and empty lumens in testes. Pesticides also inflict harm on other internal organs of fish, with gill effects like clubbing, reduction of gill filaments, telangiectasia of gill lamellae, hemorrhage, and damage to gill rakers. Kidney and liver damage include necrosis, cellular tissue degradation, acute cellular swelling, and irregular renal corpuscles, along with autolysis, vacuolation, and fatty changes in the liver. Developing embryos and larvae of freshwater fish are particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of agro-pesticides. Studies reveal acute toxicity during early life stages, evidenced by deformities like edema, notochord deformity, caudal fin damage, yolk sac damage, posterior region damage, tissue fragmentation, black pigmentation on the yolk, body curvature, and lordosis in larvae. Exposed embryos exhibit deformities such as dark brown yolk sacs, notochord deformities, and broken eggshells. Mortality rates of fish embryos and larvae escalate with higher pesticide concentrations in water. Haemato-biochemical parameters serve as crucial indicators of pesticide exposure in fish studies, showing alterations in blood hemoglobin, glucose, RBC, WBC counts, and various erythrocytic abnormalities like twin cells, fusion, echinocyte formation, spindle-shaped, tear-drop, and elongated cells. Nuclear abnormalities include binucleated cells, nuclear buds, nuclear bridges, karyopyknosis, and notched nuclei. Research suggests that even at low concentrations, agro-pesticides disrupt physiological functions and life history traits of fish, adversely impacting the natural productivity and biodiversity of freshwater fish in Bangladesh.

VL  - 9
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download