TOXIC EFFECT OF ENDOSULFAN AND FENVALERATE ON OXIDATIVE STRESS BIOMARKERS AND LIPID PEROXIDATION IN FRESHWATER FISH LABEO ROHITA (HAMILTON)
The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of two pesticides of two different classes i.e., Endosulfan an organochlorine and Fenvalerate a synthetic pyrethroid on oxidative stress biomarkers and lipid peroxidation formation in freshwater fish Labeorohita. The LC50 values determined for endosulfan and fenvalerate at 24hrs were 0.6876, 0.4749 µg l-1 respectively. Significant induction of lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase and glutathione-S- transferase activity was found in gill, kidney and liver tissues of experimental fish. On the contrary, the activity of catalase was found to be reduced in the fish exposed to both pesticides when compared to control. The changes in the oxidative enzymes were more pronounced in the fenvalerate exposure fish than the endosulfan exposure fish. The results suggest that the fish were under oxidative stress when exposed to lethal concentrations of endosulfan and fenvalerate. It is proposed that measurement of antioxidant enzymes in fish tissues may prove to be useful in biomonitoring of exposure to aquatic pollutants