Water, Pesticides, Organisms: Current Approach of Ecotoxicology

Water is essential for life, but several studies show the contamination of this resource, especially by pesticides. This contamination is the result of a complex interplay of processes in which these compounds are retained, transformed and transported, but in one way or another they reach organisms that depend on water for survival. The increasing use of pesticides is cited as one of the main factors in the global decline of aquatic species populations. However, even if they have no effect on mortality or act at sub-lethal doses, pesticides can affect the development of organisms by altering morphological, physiological and biochemical traits that can even be passed on to future generations. Therefore, aquatic organisms are of particular importance for toxicological studies with pesticides. These animals are dependent on the aquatic environment throughout their life or even in the early stages and for reproduction, which makes them susceptible to chemical products present in the water. Therefore, a comprehensive review and discussion of recent studies in this field, which are covered in this book, is of great importance for the promotion and implementation of measures to minimize the damage caused by pesticides to aquatic organisms. Understanding pesticide concentrations in the aquatic environment and the damage caused to organisms is the first step in promoting the adoption of sustainable alternatives to pesticides for pest control. Only with more research into the survival of aquatic organism populations, greater investment in science and technology and the strengthening of environmental authorities will it be possible to create a less contaminated environment. The focus of the proposed book is on the effects of various pesticides on aquatic organisms such as amphibians, fish and microcrustaceans. In this context, the occurrence of pesticides in water, methods for environmental analysis and the morphophysiological and biochemical effects of different classes of pesticides on these organisms are discussed.