Toxic effects of pesticides on land mammals

Abstract

Pesticides, such as organophosphates, carbamates, and pyrethroids,
are common agricultural chemicals that can affect health and
the environment. Organochlorines and DPCs (polychlorinated
biphenyls) cause bioaccumulation and adverse toxic effects in
mammals. Their worldwide use and risks persist despite bans. A
systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA method,
searching for articles from 2018 to 2024 in ScienceDirect and
Google Scholar with the keywords “pesticides” AND “toxicity”
AND “mammals”. 46 articles that met the inclusion criteria on
toxic effects in mammals were selected. Various studies evaluating
the toxic effects of pesticides on mammals were identified. Most
of the articles were published in 2024 (11) and 2023 (12). China and Japan led in publications, followed by India, the United States,
and Türkiye. Rattus norvegicus “rat” was the most studied species,
with 26 studies, followed by Mus musculus “mouse”, Sus scrofa
domestica “pig” and Oryctolagus cuniculus “rabbit”. A total of 72 types
of pesticides were investigated, the most notable being: chlorpyrifos,
organochlorines, tebuconazole, imidacloprid, cypermethrin,
glyphosate, neonicotinoids, thiamethoxam deltamethrin, pirimiphos
and clothianidin. Chlorpyrifos was identified as the most used in
research on terrestrial mammals. Exposure to pesticides can cause
neurological, hepatic and reproductive effects in mammals. Advances
in molecular biology have improved research into these effects,
with chlorpyrifos standing out for its reproductive and neurological
damage.