Risks associated with the use of chemicals in pond aquaculture

Abstract

The most common substances used in pond aquaculture are fertilizers and liming materials. Fertilizers are highly soluble and release nutrients that can cause eutrophication of natural waters. Fertilizers are also corrosive and some are highly explosive, so proper handling is necessary to prevent accidents. Some liming materials are caustic and can be hazardous to workers if proper precautions are not exercised. Liming materials do not cause environmental problems, and liming and inorganic fertilizer compounds do not present food safety concerns. An array of other substances is used less frequently in aquaculture including: oxidants, disinfectants, osmoregulators, algicides, coagulants, herbicides, and probiotics. These compounds or biological products quickly degrade or precipitate. They are not bioaccumulative and do not cause environmental perturbations in natural waters receiving pond effluents. Accidental spills of some substances could cause environmental damage. Most substances used in pond aquaculture to improve soil or water quality present little or no risk to food safety. The use of human wastes in aquaculture or the contamination of aquaculture systems with agricultural or industrial pollution could result in product contamination and food safety concerns. Some substances pose safety risks to workers, explosion or fire hazards, or cause mild pollution.

Lactic-acid bacteria increase the survival of marine shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, after infection with Vibrio harveyi

“…Probiotic is a cultured or live microbial feed supplement which benefits the host by improving the host-associated microorganisms or environment microbial community (IRIANTO; AUSTIN, 2002) while it does no harm to the animals cultivated or to the environment. (BOYDE; MASSAUT, 1999).…”

Back to the Basics: Biomimicry in Shrimp Farming

“…As for quick relief, the shrimp farmers resort to reckless uses of chemicals either disinfectant, pesticide, oxidizing agent or antibiotics so as to address the problem on a temporary, need of the hour basis (Boyd and Massaut, 1999). However, these methods destroy the natural decomposing bacteria and benthic invertebrates to an unsuitable level so that in future, such ponds are of no use (Gräslund and Bengtsson, 2001).…”

Histopathological and bacterial study of Persian sturgeon fry, Acipenser persicus (Borodin, 1897) exposed to copper sulfate and potassium permanganate

“…The disinfecting chemicals such as malachite green, formalin, copper sulfate, potassium permanganate, chloramines, chlorine dioxide and quaternary ammonium compounds. Irrespective of disinfecting role, these chemicals are subsequently released to the aquatic environment and may have impacts on other aquatic organisms and their habitat (Boyd and Massut 1999;Nash 2003;Erondu and Anyanwu 2005). Therefore, to modify the undesired impacts of disinfecting chemicals on fish and aquatic environment, the doses of these chemicals should be optimized at the time of usage.…”