Organophosphate-Pesticide exposure and Hematological changes in Freshwater Fish Channa punctatus (Bloch)

Abstract

The freshwater fish, Channa punctatus (Bloch) was exposed to the organophosphate pesticide malathion and 2.0ppm, 3.0ppm and 4.5ppm were determined as sub-lethal, median lethal and lethal concentrations at 96 hr of exposure. These LC₅₀ values indicate that the Malathion is highly toxic to fish. The fish were exposed to sub-lethal concentration for 4 days and the changes in the biochemical constituents were studied. Significant changes in Respiratory, hematological, biochemical and enzymological parameters in fish were observed. Several behavioral changes during the period of exposure were also observed and noted. The results obtained were discussed at length with the available literature.