Trachemys dorbigni as a metal(loid) bioindicator: a study in rural and urban areas.

Metals and metalloids are persistent environmental pollutants with the potential for bioaccumulation, posing significant health risks, including genotoxicity. These contaminants are prevalent in industrial and agricultural runoff. This study utilizes Trachemys dorbigni, an aquatic reptile, as a bioindicator to assess environmental contamination by metals and metalloids in both rural and urban settings in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.