Chlorpyrifos and Endosulfan Mixture Induced DNA Damage and Nuclear Anomalies in RBCs of Labeo rohita Assessed Through Comet and Micronucleus Assay

Abstract

Insecticides are widely used to control the insect damaging food and cash crops as well as the fruit plants. However, terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity is directly affected by overuse of insecticides. Present study was conducted to find out the genotoxic effect of insecticides on DNA damage and nuclear anomalies in RBCs of Labeo rohita after exposure to chlorpyrifos+endosulfan (CPF+END) by using Comet and Micronucleus Assay. Twenty fingerlings of L. rohita was kept in LC 50 concentration of CPF+END, (1.95±0.02 μgL -1 for 96 h) for 5 days after acclimatization. The blood sample of 5 fish was collected after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h to see the DNA damage and nuclear anomalies. Results of the current study revealed that damaged nuclei (DN%) and genetic damage index (GDI) in RBCs of L. rohita exposed to insecticides mixture was increased throughout the experiment. Similarly, the frequency of micronuclei (MN) and other nuclear anomalies (NAs) were also increased as the duration of exposure passed. It is concluded that exposure of fish to insecticides may cause considerable genetic damage to the fish. The both Comet and MN Assay are good biomarkers to identify the insecticides pollution. The results of our study can be utilized in environmental risk evaluation and in bio-monitoring approaches.Novelty Statement | This research sheds light on the genotoxicity and environmental risks associated with endosulfan and chlorpyrifos pesticides in freshwater ecosystems and offers new insights into the potential synergistic effects of these pesticides on aquatic organisms.