Determining the effect of Glyphosate Based Herbicide Roundup on Gill Structure of a Freshwater Crab, Barytelphusa cunicularis

The present study was carried out with following objectives: 1. To determine the LC0 and LC50 values of glyphosate herbicide and 2. To study the effect of glyphosate based herbicides - Roundup on the histology of the test organism. Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide that also has a desiccant effect on crops. This herbicide could build up in it and be leached into groundwater without damaging or affecting agricultural plants. Freshwater organisms, which are not intended to be targets for these detrimental components, are exposed to these substances and may demonstrate a range of changes in their bodies. These toxins may potentially make their way into the human body via the food chain. The extent of gill damage produced by the lethal exposure to roundup of the freshwater crab Barytelphusa cunicularis (Westwood 1836) was determined using histological studies. This herbicide could build up in it and be leached into groundwater without damaging or affecting agricultural plants. Freshwater organisms, which are not intended to be target for these detrimental components, are exposed to these substances and may demonstrate a range of changes in their bodies. These toxins may potentially make their way into the human body via the food chain. The extent of gill damage produced by the lethal exposure to roundup of the freshwater crab Barytelphusa cunicularis (Westwood 1836) was determined using histological studies. Over the course of 1 to 4 days of treatment, the experimental crabs subjected to fatal amounts of the roundup revealed significant histological alterations. The histological techniques are the promising area of research in aquatic toxicology as it gives the real picture of the effects imposed and the involvement of the xenobiotics in either disturbing or destroying the vital organs of living organisms.