Use of biomarkers as a biomonitoring tool for environmental pollution by pesticides: Umbeluzi River case study

General objective: to evaluate the use of biomarkers as a biomonitoring tool for environmental pollution by pesticides.

Specific objectives: Detect pesticides in water and fish tissue using Gas chromatograph mass spectrometer (GC-MS); Evaluate changes in enzymatic function and antioxidant defense system in target tissues of naturally contaminated fish harvested from the Umbeluzi River using biochemical biomarkers. To evaluate changes in the function of urinary enzymes and changes in genetic material using biomarkers of nephrotoxicity and genotoxicity respectively; Identify possible morphological changes in the liver of naturally contaminated fish in the study areas using histological biomarkers; Analyze the degree of influence of the integration of biochemical biomarker responses.

In collaboration with: Istituto di Ricerca Sulle Acque, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Italy