A REVIEW ON TOXICOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF HERBICIDES ON AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM

Abstract

Herbicides are essential in modern agriculture but pose severe risks to aquatic ecosystems, particularly fish. This review examines herbicides' biochemical and genotoxic impacts on fish species, addressing oxidative stress, metabolic disruptions, hormonal interference, DNA damage, and mutations. Herbicides like glyphosate, atrazine, paraquat, and 2,4-D have been linked to enzymatic inhibition, reproductive abnormalities, and genetic mutations with extensive implications for aquatic biodiversity and human health. Case studies provide further insights into specific herbicides' effects, such as glyphosate’s role in oxidative stress, atrazine's endocrine disruption, and paraquat’s genotoxicity. Continuous monitoring, regulation, and alternative solutions are crucial to reduce these harmful effects and protect aquatic life and public health.