A review on liver enzymes as useful biomarker to evaluate the effects of pesticides on freshwater fish

Abstract

Contaminated freshwater through the enormous use of toxicants like pesticides is unsafe for consumption, affecting public health, fishing, tourism, and the environment. Pesticide toxicity is a global issue, with most poisoning occurring in developing countries. Pesticides disturbed ecological equilibrium and have an adverse effect on a variety of creatures, which has major effects on aquatic ecosystem. They have the ability to directly poison fish and other aquatic invertebrates, impairing their ability to breathe. Pesticides can enter aquatic environments through runoff from agricultural fields, posing significant risks to aquatic life. Chemicals from pesticides, such as lead or copper, contaminate water bodies, and affect fish and other non-targeted species including human health too. Because of cumulative qualities of different synthetic pesticides they circulate in ecosystems and may be accumulated by various living organisms and even migrate through food chains and alter the functioning of different organs of living organism. Fish covered a major part of worlds food supply hence it is essential to secure the health of fish. Biomarker studies can inform regulatory decisions regarding pesticide use and environmental protection. The liver, the most important organ of essential metabolic pathways, is negatively affected by toxic chemicals. Liver enzymes like ALP, ACP, AST, and ALT enzymes serve as vital biomarkers for assessing pesticide impacts on fish liver and blood. Monitoring changes in these enzyme activities can provide valuable insights into fish populations' health status and the overall environmental impact of pesticide use. A comprehensive understanding of how liver enzymes in freshwater fish can be used as biomarkers to assess pesticide impacts is needed to protect aquatic ecosystems from pesticide contamination. Changes in species composition, community organization, and diminished resilience to environmental stressors are examples of long-term ecological consequences. Integrated strategies, such as better pesticide management techniques, are needed to mitigate these effects.