Legacy and novel contaminants in surface sediments of Admiralty Bay, Antarctica Peninsula.

Despite being one of the most remote areas on the planet, the Antarctic continent is subject to anthropogenic influences. The presence of various groups of contaminants, including persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), has been documented in the region over the past decades. However, a significant knowledge gap remains regarding the detection of new pollutants, such as emerging contaminants (ECs), in Antarctic coastal environments.

Effects of environmental variability on phytoplankton structure, diversity and biomass at the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence (BMC).

The Brazil-Malvinas Confluence (BMC) is a significant biological frontier where distinct currents meet, fostering optimal conditions for phytoplankton development. In this study we tested the hypothesis that eddys promote an increase in phytoplankton biomass at the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence (BMC), altering species diversity. Phytoplankton were collected with Niskin bottles and nutrient concentrations assessed at two depths (Surface and Deep Chlorophyll Maximum Layer - DCML) in areas outside and under the influence of Cold-Core (CCE) and Warm-Core (WCE) Eddies.

Plastic pellets make Excirolana armata more aggressive: Intraspecific interactions and isopod mortality differences between populations.

Plastic pellets represent a significant component of microplastic (< 5 mm) pollution. Impacts caused by plastic pellets involve physical harm and toxicity related to ingestion and non-ingestion (such as the release of chemicals in leachates). The latter is the main route of exposure for invertebrate macrobenthic populations.

Interactive effects of microplastics and benzo[a]pyrene on two species of marine invertebrates.

This study aimed to evaluate B[a]P and low-density polyethylene microplastics (MPs) toxicty, alone and in mixture (0.03 to 30 μg L of B[a]P; and 5, 50 and 500 mg L for MPs). Five mg L of MPs is considerably higher than commonly reported environmental concentrations, although it has been reported for marine environments.

Plastic pellets make Excirolana armata more aggressive: Intraspecific interactions and mortality in field and laboratory ecotoxicological assays.

Microplastics, including plastic pellets, get stranded on sandy beaches. They persist in the oceans for long periods and frequently carry contaminants. Acute and chronic toxicity has been observed when marine organisms are exposed to high densities of plastic pellets in laboratory assays.

The application of the DAPSI(W)R(M) framework to the plastic pellets chain.

Single-use plastic, few global engagement and lack of policies contribute to the global challenge about plastic marine litter. This form of contamination can cause injury and death of marine wildlife. Microplastics (>5 mm) represent an important fraction of plastic litter.

The barnacle Chthamalus bisinuatus is the only sessile invertebrate colonizing oil patches on beachrocks one year after a massive oil spill on the Northeastern Brazilian coast.

A large-scale oil spill has reached over 3000 km of the NE Brazilian coast since August 2019. The cause and origin of this spill remain mysterious, and the impacts on coastal ecosystems have not been clearly understood so far. Despite the efforts to remove the oil (mainly from local communities), oil stains are still present in beaches, mangroves, and beachrocks.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments and shellfish from Todos os Santos bay, Brazil.

The present study evaluated the occurrence of 24 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments and shellfish (Anomalocardia flexuosa, Crassostrea rhizophorae, and Mytella guyanensis) of Todos os Santos bay (BTS, Brazil). Total PAHs levels ranged from 89 to 921 ng g dry weight (d.w.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and personal care products (PCPs) in the surface sediments of a large tropical bay (Todos os Santos Bay, Brazil).

The occurrence and spatial distribution of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and personal care products (PCPs) were investigated in surface sediments of Todos os Santos Bay. Samples were Soxhlet-extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Quantification limits (QL) ranged from 0.

Historical inputs of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the preserved tropical estuary of the Itapicuru River, Bahia, Brazil.

The aim of present study was to evaluate temporal changes in the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the estuary of the Itapicuru (Brazil). A sediment core was sampled in the study area. Concentrations of the 16 priority PAHs were analyzed using gas chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometry.

Combining geochemical and chemometric tools to assess the environmental impact of potentially toxic elements in surface sediment samples from an urban river.

This article investigates sediments collected from the banks of the Subaé River located in Todos os Santos Bay in the state of Bahia, Brazil, in 2018, twenty-five years after the closing of a former lead alloy processing plant. Ten sediment samples were collected at different points of the course of the river and its estuarine region. Chemometric tools were used to determine geochemical correlations between the organic matter content and concentration of sulfides and potentially toxic metals.

PCBs occurrence in marine bivalves and fish from Todos os Santos Bay, Bahia, Brazil.

In order to evaluate contamination by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in a tropical bay exposed to different anthropogenic pressures, samples of bivalves: mangrove oyster (Crassotrea rhizophorae), mangrove mussel (Mytella guyanensis)and clams (Anomalocardia brasiliana), were collected in different parts of Todos os Santos Bay, Bahia, Brazil. In addition, samples of bivalves and fish, purchased from a seafood market in the city of Salvador were analyzed to evaluate human exposure to PCBs through ingestion. Identification and quantification of PCBs were done by GC/MS after microwave extraction and purification with sulfuric acid.

Concentration and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in oysters from Todos os Santos Bay (Bahia, Brazil).

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in oysters (Crassostrea rhizophorae) collected from Todos os Santos Bay (Bahia, Brazil). The total PAH concentration was highest in Madre de Deus (36.3 to 37.

Historical records of mercury deposition in dated sediment cores reveal the impacts of the legacy and present-day human activities in Todos os Santos Bay, Northeast Brazil.

We determined depth profiles of total mercury (T-Hg) in six Pb-dated sediment cores from Todos os Santos Bay to reconstruct the history of anthropogenic Hg accumulation. We also assessed superficial sediments samples from five estuaries. T-Hg concentrations (5-3500 μg kg) presented a large spatial and temporal variability.

Gas Chromatography Coupled to High Resolution Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry as a High-Throughput Tool for Characterizing Geochemical Biomarkers in Sediments.

The performance of gas chromatography coupled to high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-HRTofMS) for characterizing geochemical biomarkers from sediment samples was evaluated. Two approaches to obtain the geochemical biomarkers were tested: (1) extraction with organic solvent and subsequent derivatization and (2) in-situ derivatization thermal desorption. Results demonstrated that both approaches can be conveniently applied for simultaneous characterization of many geochemical biomarkers (alkanes, alkanols, sterols, and fatty acids), avoiding conventional time-consuming purification procedures.

Distribution and sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments of a Tropical Bay influenced by anthropogenic activities (Todos os Santos Bay, BA, Brazil).

The present study aimed to evaluate the distribution and origin of 16 Priority PAHs in surficial sediment samples of Todos os Santos Bay (TSB, Brazil). Total PAHs concentrations ranged from below the method detection limit ( View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Evaluation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons bioavailability on Santos Bay (Brazil) through levels of biliary metabolites.

This study evaluated the PAH bioavailability from Santos Bay (Brazil) in 4 species of fish, using PAH biliary metabolites. The collection was done monthly, between July and December, in three different regions of Santos Bay. The metabolites were analyzed through a high performance liquid chromatograph with fluorescence detectors.

Mugil curema as a PAH bioavailability monitor for Atlantic west sub-tropical estuaries.

This work aimed to evaluate the use of Mugil curema as a biomonitor for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) bioavailability. Fish biliary metabolites from low-contaminated (Cananéia) and contaminated (Santos) Brazilian estuaries were analysed using a high-performance liquid chromatography apparatus coupled to fluorescence detectors connected in a series. In the Cananéia and Santos estuaries, total metabolite levels ranged from 0.

Determination of Geochemically Important Sterols and Triterpenols in Sediments Using Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS).

A fast, sensitive, and selective ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method that is able to quantify geochemical biomarkers in sediment is described. A pool of 10 sterols, which can be used as biomarkers of autochthonous (cholesterol, cholestanol, brassicasterol, ergosterol), allochthonous (stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmastanol) and anthropogenic (coprostanol and epicoprostanol) organic matter (OM), and three triterpenols (lupeol, α-amyrin, and β-amyrin) were chosen as the analytes. The method showed excellent analytical parameters, and, compared with the traditional GC-MS methods that are commonly applied for the analysis of sterols, this method requires no sample cleanup or derivatization and presents improved values for the LOD and LOQ.

Mutagenicity of blue rayon extracts of fish bile as a biomarker in a field study.

Blue rayon (BR) in combination with the Salmonella/microsome assay was used to evaluate the mutagenicity of fish bile samples. Specimens of Mugil curema from two sites were collected over a 1-year period. Piaçaguera channel contains high concentrations of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other contaminants, while Bertioga channel was considered the reference sites in this study.