Review on toxic mechanisms of organophosphate insecticides towards non-target aquatilia

Organophosphate insecticides (OPs) in aquatic environmental contaminants have become a threat toward non-targeted aquatilia species. OPs compounds bear a general core structure, exerting their toxic effects primarily via the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). However, only this canonical mechanism (cholinesterase-based) cannot explain the wide-variety of adverse consequences caused by the OPs exposure. The inhibition of cholinesterase enzymes plays a key role in the toxicology of OPs, which is associated with neurobehavioral abnormal. Furthermore, as endocrine disruptors, OPs not only induced changes in endocrine systems, but also caused changes in the reproductive system and sex differentiation. Oxidative stress induced by the OPs exposure could lead to genotoxic effects and subsequent damage to DNA formation and immunological responses, which would result in the outbreak of different toxic manifestations. This paper reviews the literature on the toxic mechanisms of OPs towards non-target aquatilia organisms that might affect such fundamental processes (development, growth and population) and includes neurobehavioral effects, endocrine-disrupting actions, reproductive system and sex differentiation changes, oxidative stress, DNA damage, genotoxic effects and immunological responses. The research fields of these OPs that warrant further attentions were also discussed.