CHOLINERGIC AND GENOTOXIC CHANGES IN FISH (Poecilia reticulata) EXPOSED TOCOMMERCIAL FORMULATION OF METHAMIDOPHOS, GLYPHOSATE, ANDMANCOZEB

Abstract

The growing concern over the rising demand for food, both in quality and quantity, highlights the need for studies evaluating
the concentrations and consequences of pesticides. Monitoring the use of these substances is necessary to develop actions that
minimize contamination and its consequences and to regulate them according to the maximum allowed concentrations. Our
study aimed to evaluate the effects of prolonged exposure to methamidophos, mancozeb, and glyphosate on biochemical and
genotoxic parameters of fish. The toxicity of the commercial formulations of methamidophos, glyphosate, and mancozeb was
tested in a laboratory for 7, 15, and 30 days at concentrations allowed by the Brazilian Potable Water legislation (Ordinance
No. 2.914/2011 of the Ministry of Health). The study evaluated the three main classes of pesticides: insecticides, herbicides,
and fungicides. The parameters assessed in guppy (Poecilia reticulata) included the frequency of abnormalities (micronucleus,
notched, lobed, broken eggs, blebbed, binucleate, and vacuoles) and plasma acetylcholinesterase activity. Pesticides, even at
non-lethal doses, may alter the frequency of nuclear abnormalities and acetylcholinesterase activity. On the other hand, no
changes were observed in the biometric parameters of the animals or in the physicochemical properties of the water.