Chloroacetamide herbicide pretilachlor induces genotoxicity in the fresh water fish Clarias batrachus

Abstract

Abstract The present study has been carried out in Clarias batrachus to evaluate the genotoxic effect of herbicide pretilachlor using micronucleus test and comet assay. Fish were exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of pretilachlor (0.29 − 0.58 mg/L) – for 30 to 60 d. Micronucleus test and comet assay of erythrocytes revealed that genetic damage increases with increasing concentration of the herbicide at all durations of exposure. Maximum genetic damage was observed at day 30 after which it decreases and becomes minimum at day 60.