How insecticides used in aquaculture affect human health
- Insecticide residues in fish and shrimp
Insecticides applied to ponds (often agricultural products) are absorbed and stored in fish flesh and fat.
Humans consume these residues when eating contaminated fish.
Health effects:
Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain
Chronic liver and kidney damage
Increased risk of cancer with long-term intake - Nervous system toxicity (neurotoxicity)
Most insecticides (especially organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids) target the nervous system.
Human impacts:
Headache, dizziness, confusion
Memory loss and reduced concentration
Tremors, seizures, paralysis (high exposure)
Impaired brain development in children - Hormonal (endocrine) disruption
Certain insecticides act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).
Effects include:
Hormonal imbalance
Reduced fertility and sperm quality
Menstrual disorders
Developmental problems in fetuses and infants - Immune system suppression
Continuous low-dose exposure weakens immune response
Increased vulnerability to infections
Slower recovery from illness - Cancer risk (chronic exposure)
Long-term consumption of insecticide-contaminated fish is associated with:
Liver cancer
Leukemia
Breast and prostate cancers - Bioaccumulation and biomagnification
Insecticides accumulate in fish tissues
Concentration increases up the food chain
Humans receive the highest toxic load - Drinking water contamination
Insecticides leach from ponds into groundwater and canals
Contaminate drinking and household water
Cause chronic exposure even without eating fish - Acute poisoning of farmers and communities
People involved in aquaculture are at highest risk.
Symptoms of acute exposure:
Skin and eye irritation
Breathing difficulty
Excessive sweating and salivation
Sudden poisoning, coma, or death (severe cases)
Common insecticides misused in aquaculture
Chlorpyrifos
Malathion
Cypermethrin
Deltamethrin
Endosulfan (banned in many countries)
Agricultural insecticides illegally used in ponds
Safer alternatives to insecticides in aquaculture
✅ Proper pond drying and liming
✅ Physical removal of predators
✅ Use of probiotics and bio-control agents
✅ Integrated pest management (IPM)
✅ Good Aquaculture Practices (GAP)
✅ Farmer training and regulation enforcement
Key message for awareness
“Insecticides used in aquaculture contaminate fish, water, and the environment—causing neurological, hormonal, immune, and cancer risks to humans.”
