ABSTRACT
To feed the growing global population, agricultural production must continuously increase. The use of pesticides has been a major contributor to increased crop yields. However, their indiscriminate and widespread application has led to serious health concerns for non-target aquatic organisms, wild animals, and humans. Pesticides can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation, dermal absorption, or ocular exposure. Research findings indicate that, in addition to organochlorine, organophosphate, and carbamate pesticides, newly introduced pyrethroids also exert significant adverse effects on the nervous system of aquatic organisms, wildlife, and humans. Impairment of neurological functions can result in dizziness, headaches, developmental delays in children, short-or long-term memory loss, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Scientific studies have demonstrated that pesticide exposure triggers oxidative stress and disrupts neurotransmission in humans, animals, and aquatic organisms. These disruptions may cause neuronal damage, altered brain development, and neurodegenerative outcomes. In humans and animals, neurotoxicity is often associated with the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an enzyme essential for the breakdown of acetylcholine, a key neurotransmitter. Furthermore, certain pesticides inhibit mitochondrial complex I, leading to brain DNA damage. This review aims to present recent scientific evidence on the neurotoxic effects of pesticide exposure in aquatic organisms, animals, and humans.
AUTHOR AFFILIATIONS
Department of Chemistry, DS College, Aligarh, India - 202001
CITATION
Bansal OP (2025) Pesticides and Neurotoxicity in Aquatic, Terrestrial Animals and Humans: A Review. Environmental Science Archives 4(2): 938-950.
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