Bioaccumulation of organochlorine pesticides in aquatic system—an overview

Abstract

In recent years, various environmental issues have aroused a concern on the pollution of pesticides in rivers and in their various intercompartments. Multiple residues of pesticides discharged from industries or as a result of extensive use of agrochemicals in agriculture have been monitored. These pesticide residues contaminate the river ecosystem and its intercompartments such as sediments, and aquatic biota, and make it harmful to humans when they contaminate food and drinking water. The pesticide contamination in water, sediments, and aquatic biota has been reported to be beyond the acceptable range. The most commonly found pesticides are organochlorine, namely, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, hexachlorocyclohexane, endosulfan, heptachlor, lindane, dieldrin, aldrin, endrin, and others. The paper discusses the general description, classification, and toxicity of pesticides; it also aims to create public awareness among people and appraise them with various alternate methods to combat the problem of pesticide contamination. An attempt has also been made to elucidate the findings of various works on pesticides in aquatic system and to highlight the challenging aspects of pesticide contamination, which have not attracted the attention of investigators yet.

Pesticide Use in South Africa: One of the Largest Importers of Pesticides in Africa

“…They may cause behavioural effects. Symptoms of exposure include nausea, headaches, twitching, trembling, excessive salivation and tearing, inability to breath because of paralysis of the diaphragm and convulsions (Chopra et al, 2011). A few of these compounds (mipafox and leptophos) have been found to cause delayed neurotoxicity, but it was not caused by (ChE) inhibition.…”

“…No symptoms are seen immediately after phosphorylation of the enzyme but distal muscles become paralysed 2 to 3 weeks after the exposure and residues have disappeared from the body. Carbamates cause ChE inhibition poisoning by reversibly inactivating the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (Chopra et al, 2011). OPs and carbamates are readily biodegradable and do not bioaccumulate in the food web and are therefore regarded as "safer" than the more persistent organochlorine pesticides, but they have very high acute toxicity and some carbamates cause environmental problems because of their high vertebrate toxicity (Walker, 2009).…”

Herbicides and the Risk of Neurodegenerative Disease

“…Endosulfan has established toxic effects, is persistent in the environment and has the ability to bioaccumulate (Chopra et al, 2011). Endosulfan is being phased out of use in many countries including the United States (EPA, 2010) and Canada (Health Canada, 2011).…”

Status of persistent organic pesticide residues in water and food and their effects on environment and farmers: a comprehensive review in Nigeria

“…These persistent organic chemicals have become integral part of Nigerian society. It has been used for diverse reasons ranging from protecting crops from pests, weeds, rodents and fungal diseases to animal husbandry and also for public health application (CHOPRA;SHARMA, 2010). Though, the synthetic pesticides are not permitted to be used in organic crop production especially cereal crops.…”