Unveiling hidden toxicity: Lipid metabolic changes in Cirrhinus mrigala under Pirimicarb stress

Abstract

Toxicology, the science of poisons, explores how toxicants affect living systems and how their chemistry, biology, and environment shape these effects. Toxic responses may be acute or chronic, varying with species, genetics, age, health, and surroundings. Among chemical toxicants, pesticides form a critical group, widely used yet often harmful beyond their targets. Pirimicarb, a selective carbamate insecticide, has been employed since the 1990s to control sap-sucking aphids tiny pests notorious for damaging crops. While effective in agriculture, Pirimicarb residues inevitably reach aquatic systems, posing risks to non-target organisms such as fish. The present study investigates the impact of Pirimicarb on the lipid profile of the freshwater carp Cirrhinus mrigala. Lipids, vital for energy storage, cell structure, and metabolism, serve as sensitive biomarkers of stress. By analysing Pirimicarb-induced alterations in lipid metabolism, this research provides insights into pesticide-driven biochemical disruptions in aquatic organisms, highlighting broader implications for environmental toxicology and aquatic health.