Assessment of Molecular and Behavioural Changes Encountered Due to Pollution Mediated Endocrine Disruption in Some Chosen Fishes in the River Vaigai, South India

The diversification of chemicals from various point and non-point sources discharged into the environment that can mimic or antagonise the action of hormones. These endocrinedisrupting chemicals (EDCs) can thus interact with physiological systems and cause alterations in development, growth and reproduction in wildlife that are exposed to them. The present study focused on the endocrine sensitivity of the fishes collected from three different contaminated regions of a non-perennial Holly river Vaigai, which flows across Madurai city. The contaminated locales are Sewage confluence area (Point source), Liquid food Effluent area (Point source), and Agricultural runoff area (non-point source). From these three regions, the inhabiting common fish as Oreochromis mossambicus was collected and examined for their hormone (Estrogen) and protein (Vitellogenin) interaction. The controversial results were obtained due to endocrine disruptive chemicals discharged from these contaminated sites when compared to normal reproductive fish physiology.