Chronic low-dose exposure to chlorpyrifos reduces lifespan in a wild fish by accelerating aging

Low-concentration chemicals are widespread in the environment,
but exploration of the effects of their chronic
exposures on animal lifespan in the wild is
limited. Field investigations showed that fish
populations of Culter dabryi with chronic low-dose
chlorpyrifos loads had shortened telomeres and truncated
age structures. Laboratory experiments confirmed that chronic low-dose
chlorpyrifos exposure induced telomere degradation and reduced
survival in a dose- and physiological age-dependent manner, whereas acute
high-dose exposure did not. Together, these studies
provide evidence that chronic low-level chlorpyrifos exposure
reduces lifespan and population viability in a wild fish
by accelerating physiological aging. Given the pervasive nature of low
concentrations of pesticides in the environment and the conserved
mechanisms of aging across vertebrates, these findings raise concerns
about the potential long-term risks to longevity of
pesticides, even at low doses.