Assessment of eco-genotoxic effects of pesticide mixtures on freshwater fish, Catla catla

Eco-genotoxicity was evaluated in fresh water fish, Catla catla using two commercially available pesticide mixtures, viz., Deltamethrin 1% + Triazophos 35% EC and Profenofos 40% EC + Cypermethrin 4% EC. Acute toxicity studies were conducted primarily to determine LC₅₀ of each pesticide mixture. The fish were exposed to each pesticide mixture for 21 days at a dose value of 1/20^th and 1/10^th of LC₅₀. The gills were isolated from the fish at the end of the exposure period, and processed for comet assay. Nucleoids were scored visually, observed significant increase of damage and categorized into various degrees of damages. Based on the results obtained from this study it is concluded that the pesticide mixtures evaluated could be potentially genotoxic to fresh water fish, Catla catla.