The Effects of Pesticides on Liver Injury: Current Status on Pathophysiology

Abstract

Increasing use of pesticide may be associated with severe hepatotoxicity. The underlying mechanism of pesticide - induced liver damage is poorly understood. Studies are selected by searching keyword pesticide, food and agriculture, pesticide and liver injury, herbicide, insecticide, fungicide. PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Embase, Scopus are used to obtain research articles, case studies, reviews in English language up to June 2025. It reveals that three main types of pesticides are commonly used: herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. The toxicological effects of pesticides are linked to the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), hepatitis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Both in vivo and in vitro exposure to pesticides shows changes in hepatocyte morphology and cellular functions. Furthermore, pesticide exposure results in elevated liver enzyme activities, tissue inflammation, oxidative stress, leukocyte infiltration, and lipid accumulation. Pesticides can disrupt the gut-liver axis by diminishing beneficial gut microorganisms. These physiological alterations may be associated with significant liver injury. It can be inferred that improved safety protocols are crucial when applying hazardous pesticide agents. However, it would be wise to restrict the use of hazardous pesticides. Furthermore, the encouragement of organic farming should be promoted to mitigate pesticide-related liver damage. It is essential to prohibit the use of pesticides that demonstrate the greatest toxicity to humans, along with those that persist in the environment for extended durations. Additionally, it is vital to protect public health by setting maximum permissible limits for pesticide residues in food and water.