Genotoxicity induced by imidacloprid in aquatic ecosystems: a case study on Oreochromis niloticus

Fatma SOYSALDI, Ramazan MERT

Abstract

Imidacloprid is a widely used insecticide classified as a neonicotinoid, which acts on the central nervous system of insects. This study aimed to evaluate the genotoxic effects of imidacloprid on Oreochromis niloticus using the micronucleus (MN) assay. For this purpose, fish were exposed to 50 and 100 mg/L concentrations of imidacloprid for 24 and 96 hours. Sublethal doses were selected as 1/6 and 1/3 of the 96-hour LC50 value (280 mg/L). The frequencies of micronuclei and nuclear abnormalities (notched, budding, lobed, and binucleated nuclei) were found to increase significantly in a dose- and time-dependent manner compared to the control groups (p<0.05). The highest MN frequency was observed in the 100 mg/L group at 96 hours, reaching 10.8‰. Notched nuclei (11.5‰) and budding nuclei (9.5‰) also showed a significant increase. These findings indicate that imidacloprid can cause genotoxic effects even at low concentrations and may pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems. The results emphasize the need for more rigorous biomonitoring of pesticide pollution and suggest that regulatory measures should be taken to protect aquatic environments.

 

Keywords

Oreochromis niloticus, imidacloprid, micronucleus test, genotoxicity, aquatic ecosystem, pesticide pollution, nuclear abnormalities

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References

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