Environmental assessment of the pesticides in Parablennius sanguinolentus along the Western Calabrian coast (Italy)

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Why is it important?

Among the various biomarkers of exposure to pesticides, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymatic activities have been widely used to evaluate the toxic effects of pesticides such as carbamates and organophosphates. Exposure to pesticide concentrations that might not be lethal to fish can still affect their physiology and behaviour, with potential for reduced growth, survival and reproduction, and metabolic disturbances. AChE inhibition results in an accumulation of acetylcholine at nerve synapses and disruption of nerve function, and this has been measured routinely to evaluate the biological impacts of carbamate and organophosphorus pesticides in aquatic environments.