Effects of environmental contaminants and chemotherapeutics on fish defense mechanisms

Abstract

The effects of the more common pollutants from industry or agriculture such as pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides), organic pollutants (polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls and heavy metals), on the fish immune system are reviewed. Other xenobi- otics involved are immunomodulators or chemotherapeutics as antibiotics. All of those pollutants found in the aquatic environment can impair the humoral, cellular or non specific immunity of fish.