UNVEILING THE ECOTOXICOLOGY OF CHLORPYRIFOS: FATE, TRANSPORT, AND ECOSYSTEM DISRUPTION

Excessive and inappropriate use of these pesticides causes significant harm to non-target species, including humans. Their residues persist in the air, soil, and water for long periods, eventually leading to biomagnification through the food chain and inducing pesticide resistance in pests as well as the occurrence of mutations. Pesticides have contributed to dramatic increases in crop yields, as well as in the quantity and variety of food available. They have also aided in the containment of certain diseases. Pesticides, on the other hand, can be harmful to both human health and the environment. These negative health effects include acute and chronic nervous system damage, lung damage, reproductive organ damage, immune and endocrine system dysfunction, birth defects, and cancer. Invertebrates, fish, and amphibians are all extremely poisoned by chlorpyrifos. Death, malformations, and bioaccumulation in tissues can result from even low amounts. In aquatic environments, chlorpyrifos can upset the stability, composition, and structure of microbial communities, impairing their capacity to carry out vital tasks including pollution degradation and nutrient cycling. Plant development and health can be adversely affected by chlorpyrifos, which may lower crop production and have an effect on the food chain. Chlorpyrifos may have an impact on plant health and soil fertility by changing the makeup and role of soil microflora.