No abstract

Many new pesticides introduced into the market every year to combat increasing in pest resistance. These pesticides persist in the soil, water and food, with toxicity related outcomes to both humans and animals (Ntow et al., 2008; Kumari, 2008). Modern agricultural practices result in indiscriminate use of various agrochemicals which usually enters into the aquatic environment. These agrochemicals affect the non-target aquatic biota including fish (Omitoyin et al., 2006). Injudicious and indiscriminate use of agrochemicals have caused great concern among health and environmental scientists because records of filed application of pesticides even in developed countries revealed that less than 0.1% of pesticides applied to crops reach target pest, thus over 99% moves into ecosystem to contaminate the land, water and air (Chapman et al., 1998). These pesticides can reach natural water either via transfer of the chemicals from soil (or) directly by spraying against target organisms. Aquaculture apart from agriculture is common in India. The non-target organisms are directly exposed to pesticides used for the control of insects and pests. The pesticides affect the survival growth rate, fecundity and reproductive activity of fish (Singh and Singh, 2006).