A comparative study of the effect of pesticides used in agriculture on catfish in some Nile Delta governorates (Damietta branch and Rasheed branch)

Abstract

The increased usage of chemicals and other harmful compounds has contaminated air, water, soil, and food, endangering life. This threat has grown with fast industrialization and exponential population expansion. Because agricultural runoffs contain pesticide and fertilizer residues, they have a negative impact on the quality of surface and ground water. The goal of the current article is to gather data on pesticide pollution in aquatic environments and its potential impacts on fish and human health. Because pesticide pollution causes acute toxicity in fish which has a harmful effect on human health, with results in abrupt and intense mortality, it is a serious concern. Due to some outlawed pesticides are still used in agricultural settings and have detrimental effects on organisms, Samples of catfish (Clarias sp) and water were collected from four governorates in the Delta region (El-Behera, El-Gharbia, El-Qalyubia, and El-Dakahlia). The results demonstrated that the catfish from the four governorates had endosulfan, heptachlor, aldrin, pp-DDT, and diazinon detected. However, dicofol was detected in EI-Behera & El-Gharbia. Chlorpyrifos was not detected in El-Gharbia. The catfish gathered from four governorates did not have an estimated daily intake (EDI) greater than the PDI. Ultimately, the findings indicated that the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) was validated in four governorates where the mean score was less than one. When the THQ is less than 1, the exposed populace is not obviously in danger to their health. The hazard index (HI) for catfish taken from the Nile River in three governorates is less than one. In El- Behera governorate, a higher than 1 hazard index (HI) suggests a possible risk to human health because consuming contaminated fish may result in long-term pesticide accumulation in the body. Finally, coordinated efforts, combined with sensible pesticide application and integrated pest management are thought to be the primary methods of reducing pesticide pollution in aquatic systems.