Contaminants can have acute or chronic effects on fish and other aquatic organisms. Acute exposure may lead to immediate mortality, while chronic exposure can cause sub-lethal effects such as changes in behavior, reproduction, and growth. For instance, mercury can impair neurological functions in fish, affecting their ability to evade predators and reproduce. Bioaccumulation and biomagnification further exacerbate these effects, as toxic substances become more concentrated in organisms higher up the food chain.
