Bioaccumulation Factor Assessment of Organochlorine Pesticides in Fish from Agriculturally Impacted Rivers

Abstract

Organochlorine pesticides released from agricultural activities persist in aquatic environments due to their hydrophobicity, chemical stability, and resistance to biodegradation, resulting in long-term ecological contamination and potential human health risks through food chain transfer. The present study investigates the bioaccumulation factor assessment of organochlorine pesticides in fish collected from agriculturally impacted rivers under varying environmental conditions. The research focuses on evaluating pesticide concentration levels, bioaccumulation behavior, trophic transfer potential, and ecological risk associated with persistent organic pollutant contamination in freshwater ecosystems. Experimental analysis was conducted using fish tissue sampling, water quality assessment, and chemical residue characterization to examine the influence of pesticide concentration, lipid content, species variation, feeding behavior, and river pollution intensity on bioaccumulation performance. Results demonstrate that organochlorine pesticides accumulate significantly in fish tissues, particularly in lipid-rich organs, due to strong hydrophobic interactions and prolonged environmental persistence. The study further reveals that fish species occupying higher trophic levels exhibit elevated pesticide accumulation, indicating biomagnification within aquatic food webs. Spatial analysis identified increased contaminant concentrations in river sections receiving intensive agricultural runoff and pesticide discharge. Comparative assessment with environmental quality standards confirms the potential ecological and public health risks associated with consumption of contaminated fish from agriculturally influenced water bodies.