Biomarkers as a tool to evaluate environmental quality of aquatic ecosystems susceptible to pesticide contamination

Abstract

Biomarkers or biological markers are measurable biological responses of living organisms which can indicate the presence of environmental pollutants and, eventually, contamination levels. Usage and development of new environmental contamination biomarkers are increasingly widespread in biological monitoring and water resource management programs in developed countries. Recent studies indicate poor quality of water bodies as a result of pollution from agricultural effluents has increased considerably. Current practices in food production often result in the use of an indiscriminate mixture of classes of pollutants such as organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates and pyrethroids, among others, which can produce serious impacts to the water environment. Some of these substances are bioaccumulative, that is, they tend to increase in concentration in upper trophic levels. Studies using multiple environmental contamination biomarkers are increasingly relevant. The present work aims to discuss and compare the use of chemical, biochemical and cellular environmental contamination biomarkers in continental freshwater fish species exposed to sublethal concentrations of various contaminants. Among the results, we can highlight a significant increase in the total concentration of CYP450 in carps (Cyprinus carpio) sublethally exposed to the endosulfan, and increased levels of EROD activity in armored catfish (Ancistrus multispinis) exposed to sublethal concentrations of deltamethrin.