Copper Sulphate Induced Toxicity in Teleost Fishes: A Review of Physiological, Biochemical, Hematological and Reproductive Implications

Copper sulphate is commonly used as a disease control measure in aquaculture; however, its continuous discharge within freshwater ecosystems represents a critical hazard to ecological diversity. This review combines information from over forty research papers on teleost fish species to create a holistic perspective on the multisystem toxicological effects caused by copper sulphate exposure. The effects presented include ion regulation and respiration within gills, growth and immune systems changes, and hematological changes that represent valid biomarkers for imbalances caused by copper sulphate exposure due to their reliability and sensitivity to ion changes within organisms. Biochemical changes like oxidative stress and endogenous antioxidants, metabolic impairments, and genotoxic changes such as DNA damage represent critical mechanisms for understanding the toxicological effects caused by copper sulphate exposure within teleost fish species.