Pesticide residues and reproductive dysfunction in different vertebrates from north India

Organochlorines (isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane – HCHs and metabolites of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane – DDTs, aldrin and endosulfan) and organophosphate (chlorpyrifos) insecticide residues were investigated by gas liquid chromatography in the blood of fish, chick, goat and man. The plasma levels of testosterone (T) and estradiol-17β (E2) was measured by radioimmunoassay in the catfish Rita rita captured from unpolluted reference site and polluted river Gomti during prespawning phase. Results indicated that in R. rita the ΣDDT, ΣHCH, endosulfan, aldrin, chlorpyrifos in blood levels were in preferential order (ΣDDT > ΣHCH > endosulfan > aldrin > chlorpyrifos) of their bioaccumulation. The blood levels of ΣHCH and ΣDDT also showed high levels in chick, goat and man, and preferential order of bioaccumulation was goat > chick > man > fish. The ΣDDT also showed preferential order (man > chick > goat > fish) of bioaccumulation. Among the different tissues of fish (blood, liver, brain and ovary) the ΣDDT was very high as compared to ΣHCH as well as the rest of tissues which was very selective bioconcentration in different tissues of fish during prespawning phase. The gonado-somatic index, T and E2 declined in the catfish captured from polluted river when compared with the catfish captured from reference site affecting reproductive physiology. Our results indicated that increase of insecticides in blood level in vertebrates causes reproductive dysfunction and suggested that for human beings food like fish, chick and goat containing beyond permissible limit of insecticides must be avoided.