Ecotoxicology and pesticides in tropical aquatic ecosystems of Central America

Abstract

Although pesticide use is high in the Central American region, few studies concerning environmental levels and effects of pesticides in aquatic ecosystems have been conducted. In this review 18 studies were identified, most of which deal exclusively with organochlorine residues, but other chemical groups also were studied and found in tropical aquatic ecosystems. Only five studies considered effects of pesticides on aquatic organisms; four of these examined both the presence of pesticides in environmental substrates and field effects. Major research needs include studies on fate and degradation in tropical conditions; acute and chronic toxicity to native species; effects of temperature, humidity, and other characteristics of tropical conditions on toxicity, as well as effects of pesticides on tropical ecosystems.