Environmental Pollution and Oxidative Stress in Fish

Living systems encounter a variety of stresses during their continuous interaction with environment. Environmentally-induced stresses frequently activate the endogenous production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), most of which are generated as side products of tissue respiration. Hence, constant exposure to stressors may enhance ROS-mediated oxidative damage. Increased number of agricultural and industrial wastes enter aquatic environment and being taken up by aquatic organisms induce plural changes. Some of them directly enhance ROS formation whereas others act indirectly, for example, by binding with cellular thiols and reducing antioxidant potential. Fish are particularly threatened by water pollution. The use of sentinel species in biomonitoring needs to be discussed due to different level of their vulnerability by environmental toxicants.