Impacts of heavy metals on early development, growth and reproduction of fish – A review

Heavy metals pollution causes a threat to the aquatic environment and to its inhabitants when their concentrations exceed safe limits. Heavy metals cause toxicity in fish due to their non-biodegradable properties and their long persistence in the environment. This review investigated the effects of heavy metals on early development, growth and reproduction of fish. Fish embryos/larvae and each developmental stage of embryo respond differently to the intoxication and vary from species to species, types of metals and their mode of actions, concentration of heavy metals and their exposure time. Many of the heavy metals are considered as essential nutrient elements that positively improve the growth and feed utilization of fishes but upon crossing the maximum tolerable limit these metals cause not only a hazard to fish health but also to human consumers and the disruption of ecological systems. Reduced gonadosomatic index (GSI), fecundity, hatching rate, fertilization success, abnormal shape of reproductive organs, and finally failure of reproduction in fish have been attributed to heavy metal toxicity. In summary, this review sheds light on the manipulation of fish physiology by heavy metals and seeks to raise sensitivity to the prevention and control of aquatic environmental contamination, particularly from heavy metals.