Abstract

Pesticides are one of the most potentially harmful chemicals introduced into the environment. The acute and sublethal toxicity of the pesticide Endosulfan 35% EC on the fingerlings of Catla catla was evaluated to determine its effect on the cholesterol values. The fish was exposed to varying levels of the toxicant concentrations using static bioassay to determine the median lethal concentration. The LC50 value is 0.4 ppm. Four groups of fishes were exposed in 0.4ppm concentration for 24, 48 and 72 hours. Another group was maintained as control. The exposures of fish to various concentrations were observed to cause progressive reduction in the cholesterol values when compared to control. Pesticides usage in agricultural fields to control pests is extremely toxic to non target organisms like fish and affects fish health through impairment of metabolism, sometimes leading to mortality. Present study is a review of potential adverse effects of pesticides and pollutants in fish. The aquatic ecosystem is contaminated by indiscriminate and wide spread of pesticides and other metallic pollutants in controlling the agriculture pests. Biochemical studies are good parameters which help to see the effect of pesticide on biochemical composition of vital tissue of fish.

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