Estuaries play an essential role as nurseries for several aquatic species. However, increasing anthropogenic influences compromise habitat quality, impacting species recruitment and the nursery value associated with these ecosystems. This study investigated the estuarine-coastal connectivity of Mugil curema in four tropical estuaries (Camaratuba, Mamanguape, Paraíba and Gramame) located in the state of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil, with different degrees of anthropogenic impact. Based on the geochemical signatures of the otolith cores, the natal element-to-calcium ratios were retrospectively evaluated and compared for individuals from the same cohort, namely juveniles collected in 2022 (age-0) and subadults (age-1) collected in 2023. This analysis aimed to identify recruitment patterns and assess the relative contribution of each estuary to the coastal populations. Statistics, including One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and Linear Discriminant Function Analysis (LDFA), revealed spatial separation of individuals based on multielemental signatures, reflecting variations linked to local environmental conditions and to the degree of anthropogenic impact. Elemental ratios such as Li:Ca and Ba:Ca emerged as key markers for spatial differentiation. A Multinomial Logistic Regression (MLR) indicated that the Paraíba estuary is the main nursery area for Mugil curema, with a self-recruitment rate of 52% and the largest contribution to coastal subadult populations. Despite being the most impacted estuary, it still plays an essential role in maintaining the coastal fish populations of the species, evidencing its ecological importance and the need for urgent conservation measures. The results also indicate that connectivity between estuaries and the coastal zone is shaped by local environmental and anthropogenic factors, and that the nursery value of each estuary can vary considerably. The identification of key areas for recruitment and connectivity of M. curema, such as the Paraíba estuary, provides important insights for fisheries management and conservation of essential habitats, especially in tropical regions under increasing anthropogenic pressure.

The Gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta), a native species in nearshore habitats of Central America and the Caribbean, has established invasive populations in heavily urbanized estuaries of South America, such as the Santos-Sao Vicente Estuarine System (SSVES), Brazil. This study presents the first assessment of bioaccumulation of eight pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs), representing various therapeutic classes, in the liver, muscle, and gonads of O. beta. Eight PhACs were detected in at least one tissue type [range: limit of quantification (LOQ) to 22.0 ng/g]: atenolol (ATE), caffeine (CAF), cocaine (COC), diclofenac (DIC), haloperidol (HAL), losartan (LOS), orphenadrine (ORP) and propranolol (PRO). Notably, this is the first report of HAL in marine biota from the Brazilian coastline. Concentrations varied across tissues: LOS, ATE, ORP, COC, and PRO were most abundant in the gonads; CAF was highest in muscle; and HAL showed the greatest accumulation in liver. Gonads exhibited the highest number of positive detections and the greatest total PhAC concentration, followed by muscle and liver. Given the osmoregulatory behaviour of marine teleosts, such as continuous seawater ingestion, exposure may occur not only via gill and dermal absorption but also through oral intake. These findings underscore the relevance of O. beta as a sentinel species for monitoring pharmaceutical contamination and suggest that non-native fishes may play a key role in the trophic transfer and distribution of emerging contaminants in impacted coastal ecosystems. Further research is needed to clarify the dynamics of PhAC bioaccumulation across different species and environmental contexts in Latin America.

Edible tissues (muscle and liver) of three Brazilian fishes-Centropomus parallelus, Cynoscion virescens and Nebris microps-and two shrimp species-Litopenaeus schmitti and Xiphopenaeus kroyeri-collected in the Brazilian coastal zone, were analysed for twelve target pharmaceuticals compounds using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Five substances were detected: caffeine, cocaine, acetaminophen, losartan and orphenadrine. Acetaminophen reached the highest concentration in N. microps muscle (49.8 ng/g), while caffeine occurred in C. parallelus and C. virescens (2.7-3.6 ng/g). Losartan was consistently present in shrimp (0.8-1.5 ng/ g), confirming their role as sentinels of wastewater-derived contamination. An integrated bioaccumulation and weight-of-evidence (WoE) assessment combined bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) predicted fish biotransformation half-lives, and mode of action profiles. Artificial intelligence was incorporated through TRIDENT, which predicted EC10/EC50 thresholds and selectivity indices (SI) for algae, invertebrates and fish. BAFs were consistently < 1000 L/kg, indicating negligible bioaccumulation, while short-to-moderate t1/2 and narcosis MOA supported low retention. Nevertheless, repeated detection of acetaminophen and caffeine reflects chronic exposure, whereas neuroactive MOA predictions for cocaine and orphenadrine, combined with TRIDENT-derived SIs, suggested potential taxon-specific vulnerabilities despite low bulk accumulation. This study provides the first integrated assessment of pharmaceutical and cocaine residues in seafood from the Sao Paulo coast and expands evidence for losartan and orphenadrine in Latin American marine biota. By merging empirical measurements with predictive modelling, including artificial intelligence, the WoE framework improves ecological interpretation and strengthens seafood safety assessments in tropical coastal ecosystems.

Black drum, Pogonias courbina, is an important but overexploited fishery resource in southeastern Brazil lagoon systems with a vulnerable status on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. To improve understanding of P. courbina life history and fishery sustainability, otolith microchemistry was used to characterize habitat use in two Brazilian lagoon systems in the southwest Atlantic (Saquarema-RJ and Araruama-RJ). Following age estimation from annual growth increments, otolith core-to-edge Sr/Ca, Ba/Ca and Mn/Ca signatures for forty (40), 2-year-old, individuals (20 per site), collected between November 2019 and April 2020, were measured by laser ablation inductively coupled to plasma mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS) to document ontogenetic chemical variations. Spearman correlation, Generalized Addictive Models (GAMs) and Change point analysis were used to assess habitat-use patterns among the study individuals. Two habitat-use patterns for P. courbina were identified consistent with estuaries with a well-defined salinity gradient: (i) movements in mesohaline waters with low salinity, and (ii) movements in polyhaline waters with intermediate salinity. These findings confirm that P. courbina is estuarine-dependent, likely utilizing different salinity environments as nurseries. The species shows high habitat-use plasticity. Ba/Ca and Sr/Ca fluctuations track distinct movement patterns (profiles), while Mn/Ca peaks reflect rapid somatic growth during the larval-juvenile transition, making these otolith chemical markers effective tracers of P. courbina life history.

Understanding the life-history strategies of deep-sea fishes is essential for improving ecological knowledge and informing conservation efforts. Using otolith microchemistry, this study reconstructed the ontogenetic movement patterns of four grenadier species (Nezumia aequalis, Hymenocephalus billsam, Coelorinchus marinii, and Malacocephalus occidentalis) caught in the continental slope off southern Brazil (Southwestern Atlantic). Elemental signatures (Ba:Ca, Sr:Ca, Li:Ca, Mg:Ca, Mn:Ca, Ni:Ca, Cu:Ca, and Zn:Ca) were quantified along core-to-edge transects of sagittal otoliths using Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Ontogenetic shifts were identified using change-point detection (PELT). A general decline in elemental incorporation with age was observed across species, consistent with ontogenetic physiological regulation. Species-specific multi-elemental patterns suggest distinct ecological strategies. Nezumia aequalis exhibited an abrupt decline in Ba:Ca, indicating an early-life environmental shift. Hymenocephalus billsam showed increasing Ba:Ca and Sr:Ca profiles, consistent with continued use of pelagic-associated water masses. Coelorinchus marinii and Malacocephalus occidentalis displayed more complex patterns, with the latter showing pronounced Ba:Ca and Zn:Ca peaks that may reflect mid-life habitat shifts or physiological events. Mn:Ca ratios differed between pelagic and demersal species. Otolith microchemistry combined with change-point analysis could provide insights into deep-sea fish ontogeny, although interpretations should consider both environmental and physiological influences.

Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) are emerging pollutants of concern due to their bioactivity and potential to disrupt aquatic ecosystems. Although extensively studied in Europe and North America, knowledge of their occurrence and risks in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) remains limited. This study builds upon the harmonized dataset published by our group [1], which compiled and systematized 154 peer-reviewed studies addressing the presence of PhACs in LAC aquatic environments between 1990 and 2024, and pursued two objectives: (i) to map regional research activity through scientometric analysis, and (ii) to assess ecological risks (ERA) using a hierarchical framework integrating experimental and in silico ecotoxicological evidence. Predicted No-Effect Concentrations (PNECs) were derived from a structured evidence hierarchy comprising three tiers: validated experimental data (Tier 1), VEGA QSAR predictions within the applicability domain (ADI > 0.85; Tier 2), and ECOSAR-TRIDENT integrated outputs (Tier 3). In this tier, ECOSAR mechanistic predictions were crossvalidated by TRIDENT artificial intelligence. The ERA integrated measured environmental concentrations from 58 studies conducted in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Bolivia, covering 24 compounds. Approximately 71 % of all exposure scenarios were classified as negligible or low risk, whereas 29 % exhibited moderate to high ecological concern. Psychotropic drugs (sertraline, citalopram, fluoxetine, carbamazepine), macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin, azithromycin, sulfamethoxazole), and the anti-inflammatory diclofenac emerged as regional priorities due to their persistence and bioactivity. Overall, this ERA framework provides a transparent and resource-efficient approach for prioritizing PhACs and managing ecological risks, suitable for regions with limited resources such as LAC and adaptable to other data-scarce areas worldwide.

Urbanized coastal zones are increasingly exposed to complex mixtures of pharmaceuticals and illicit drug markers (PhACs), yet ecological risk assessment (ERA) remains constrained by limited experimental chronic toxicity data, particularly for marine environments. Here, we applied an integrated Weight-of-Evidence (WoE) framework combining experimentally derived ecotoxicological endpoints with quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR)-based predictive toxicology tools (ECOSAR and VEGA) and an artificial-intelligence deep-learning model (TRIDENT) to assess chronic ecological risks of twelve PhACs in drainage channels discharging into Enseada Beach (Guarujá, southeastern Brazil). Experimental evidence identified acetaminophen (risk quotients: RQ = 25.4, fish) and caffeine (RQ = 1.52, algae) as high-risk substances, while diclofenac exhibited negligible risk (RQ < 0.01). First-tier QSAR screening with ECOSAR highlighted caffeine, losartan, and benzoylecgonine as priority pollutants, with RQs reaching 3.07 for losartan in fish. VEGA applicability-domain (ADI) analysis indicated that approximately 65-70% of compound-taxon combinations were predicted within a reliable chemical space (ADI ≥ 0.85), increasing confidence in chronic risk estimates for structurally complex and ionizable compounds, including cocaine and benzoylecgonine. TRIDENT predictions moderated extreme QSAR outputs while preserving taxon-specific sensitivity, confirming caffeine, acetaminophen, and losartan as high-risk compounds and classifying cocaine and benzoylecgonine as moderate risk in the final WoE synthesis. Algae emerged as the most sensitive taxonomic group, followed by crustaceans and fish. Overall, this study demonstrates the value of integrating QSAR tools and AI-based models within a WoE framework to improve ERA in data-limited tropical coastal environments, highlighting a transferable and transparent methodology with broad international relevance.

This article presents a scientometric dataset on pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs in water resources across Latin America and the Caribbean (1990–2024). Bibliographic records were retrieved from the Web of Science™ Core Collection and processed using Bibliometrix (R environment), with metadata harmonised to ensure consistency. The dataset comprises ten figures and nine supplementary tables, covering annual publication trends, country productivity, co-authorship and keyword networks, and core journals. All resources are openly available via Mendeley Data (doi:10.17632/6y8pb89dnk.1), enabling direct access and reuse. This dataset provides a structured basis for analysing regional research capacity, collaboration patterns, and thematic hotspots. It can be integrated into comparative studies, systematic reviews, or machine learning approaches to identify knowledge gaps and support evidence-based policies on water quality and public health.

Atherinella brasiliensis, Diapterus rhombeus and Eucinostomus argenteus are fish species widely distributed in the western Atlantic, inhabiting coastal habitats and the inner continental shelf (<50 m depth), where they play key ecological roles and have direct and indirect fishery value. Traditional otolith macrostructural analysis has failed to age these species; therefore, otolith microstructural analysis (OMA) was applied to both juvenile and adult specimens. Polishing of sagittal (for A. brasiliensis and E. argenteus) and transverse cross-sectioned (for D. rhombeus) otoliths allowed microincrements to be counted with precision between readers (average percent error values < 6 %). Counts were adjusted to overcome some artifacts near to the otolith edge due to the polishing process. Microincrements counts and radius measurements were used to back-calculate length-at-age data (modified Fry's model) and then to fit growth models (multi-model inference). Methodological accuracy includes the adoption of the biological intercept (the beginning of the otolith radius-total length relationship) in the back-calculation. For A. brasiliensis, the number of microincrements varied between 125 and 374, for D. rhombeus were between 91 and 609, and for E. argenteus between 100 and 274. The Gompertz model best described the growth of A. brasiliensis (L-infinity: 104.88 mm, K: 3.554(,) G: 0.01154/day) and E. argenteus (L-infinity: 109.23 mm, K: 2.517(,) G: 0.0102/day) while the von Bertalanffy model best described the growth of D. rhombeus (L-infinity: 232.01 mm, k: 0.00308/day, t(0): -2.179 days). These results are novel for these species, supporting the use of this method in species without clear macrostructural increments. Although laborious and time-consuming, OMA, combined with the proposed correction protocol for microincrements counts, offers a robust methodological framework to fill critical gaps in age and growth studies for coastal fish species in variable environments.

This study investigated the ecotoxicological impacts of environmentally relevant concentrations (0.05, 0.50, and 5.00 mg/L) of nickel nanoparticles (Ni-NPs) by assessing oxidative stress biomarkers. The worm Hediste diversicolor, the bivalve Mytilus spp., and the fish Sparus aurata were chronically exposed to Ni-NPs for 28 days, and glutathione S-transferases (GST), catalase (CAT), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels were measured to evaluate biochemical responses. GST activity increased in H. diversicolor and the liver of S. aurata, suggesting a key role for this enzyme in Ni-NPs detoxification. CAT activity was inhibited in the digestive gland of Mytilus spp. at the highest Ni-NPs concentration, indicating possible disruption of antioxidant defense. TBARS levels rose significantly in the gills of Mytilus spp. exposed to high Ni-NP concentrations, suggesting oxidative damage beyond detoxification capacity. In contrast, TBARS decreased in the digestive gland of Mytilus and in H. diversicolor, possibly due to compensatory upstream antioxidant responses. These findings indicate that each species exhibits distinct adaptive responses to Ni-NP exposure. Overall, this study highlights the need to consider species- and tissue-specific responses when performing ecotoxicological risk assessments of nanomaterials.

The European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) is one of the most emblematic coastal fish species in the Northeast Atlantic, with high commercial value for fisheries and aquaculture, and importance for sport and recreational fishing. Despite its socio-economic importance, the Iberian divisions, Cantabrian Sea (8c) and the Atlantic Iberian waters (9a), defined by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), lack stock delimitation data. Moreover, this species is missing basic biological information, a seasonal reproductive fishing ban, and the annual landings in this region are more than double the levels recommended by ICES. To investigate the population structure of D. labrax in these areas, 140 adult individuals (36–51 cm of total length) were collected between January and March 2025 in three locations along the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula: Avilés (n = 47), Peniche (n = 48), and Lagos (n = 45). Fish from each location were analyzed for body geometric morphometrics (truss network) and otolith shape contour (Elliptical Fourier Descriptors). Data were evaluated using univariate and multivariate tests to assess spatial differences and reclassification success among locations. Results revealed regional differences using body morphometry and otolith shape analyses. The overall reclassification success was 68% for truss networking, 51% for otolith shape, and 65% when both methods were combined. Despite the observed differences, the absence of clear, isolated populations supports the ICES definition of a single, though not homogeneous, European seabass stock in the Atlantic Iberian coastal waters. Nevertheless, individuals from Avilés exhibited distinctive morphometric patterns and otolith shapes, suggesting possible adaptations to local selective pressures in slightly different environments. Further studies integrating genetic tools, otolith chemistry, parasitic fauna and telemetry analyses, as well as other fish samples from adjacent areas such as the Bay of Biscay, are recommended to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the population structure and migration patterns of this key species in the Atlantic Iberian coastal waters.

Urophycis cirrata is an important demersal fish species targeted by Brazilian industrial fisheries. With high exploitation rates, its stock(s) is(are) currently deemed fully exploited or overexploited. While basic ecological information, such as length at first maturity, exists, knowledge of its population structure is limited. A sub-sample of 90 sagittal otoliths of U. cirrata juveniles (300–411 mm total length) collected during the Program for Assessment of the Sustainable Potential of Living Resources in the Exclusive Economic Zone (REVIZEE) in 2001/2002 was analyzed. Samples came from the outer continental shelf and upper slope of the southeast-south Brazilian coast, divided into three regions: northern (Cabo São Tomé to São Sebastião), central (São Sebastião to Cabo Santa Marta Grande), and southern (Cabo Santa Marta Grande to Chuí). Otolith shape (elliptic Fourier descriptors) and elemental (element:Ca) signatures were examined using univariate (ANOVA, Tukey) and multivariate (MANOVA, LDFA) statistical methods. An overall reclassification success rate of 86% was achieved using both signatures. However, individuals from the three regions were not fully separable, indicating a single, albeit not homogeneous, population unit for fisheries management. As fish stocks are dynamic, contemporary studies should be conducted to verify whether this population structure persists.

Monitoring of illicit drug contamination in coastal marine ecosystems is critical, particularly in regions such as Brazil, where inadequate wastewater treatment infrastructure coincides with high rates of drug consumption. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the temporal variability and ecotoxicological risks associated with the presence of cocaine (COC) and its main metabolite, benzoylecgonine (BEN), in the recreational coastal waters of Santos Bay, in southeastern Brazil. Four sampling campaigns were conducted between July 2023 and April 2024. COC and BEN were consistently detected across all samples, with concentrations ranging from 14.0 to 110.1 ng/L and 29.1 to 154.0 ng/L, respectively, indicating their widespread presence and environmental relevance as contaminants of emerging concern. Ecotoxicological risk assessment based on acute toxicity data revealed that both compounds pose significant risks across all tested trophic levels (algae, invertebrates and fish). Specifically, COC presented moderate risk to algae and fish, and high risk to crustaceans, while BEN showed moderate risk to algae and high risk to fish. In contrast, chronic toxicity assessments indicated low ecological risk for algae, with negligible risk for other organisms, for both compounds. Additionally, mixture toxicity evaluation of COC and BEN suggested a high acute risk, but a low chronic risk associated with their combined presence. The scarcity of ecotoxicological data for marine species, especially tropical organisms, remains a major limitation for comprehensive risk characterization. Therefore, this study highlights the urgent need for further toxicological research to support regulatory frameworks and environmental protection in marine tropical ecosystems.

Mugil curema is a euryhaline fish highly abundant in the estuarine and coastal waters of Brazil, representing an important halieutic resource. The species plays a key ecological role by transferring matter and energy between habitats via migratory patterns. However, its population dynamics, habitat connectivity and movement patterns remain poorly understood. This study aimed to examine population structure through sagittal otolith shape and chemistry. In May 2023, ninety sub-adult individuals were collected from coastal zones near three estuarine systems-Camaratuba, Gramame, and Paraiba-in Paraiba state, northeastern Brazil. Otolith contour was assessed using elliptical Fourier descriptors (EFD), while the elemental chemical signatures (ECS) were analyzed using solution-based inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Both univariate and multivariate statistics were applied to evaluate population differences among sites. EFD results showed significant shape variation, with a 57 % overall reclassification rate; D2 and D3 were most discriminative according to univariate tests. ECS analysis provided stronger site differentiation, with significant differences in elemental ratios, namely Na:Ca, Mg: Ca, Mn:Ca, Ba:Ca, Fe:Ca, Co:Ca, Li:Ca, Ni:Ca and Rb:Ca. The ECS method alone achieved an 82 % overall reclassification rate. When combining EFD and ECS, overall reclassification accuracy rose to 84 % and cluster analysis showed clearer sample separation among sites. These findings indicate that environmental heterogeneity in Paraiba's coastal zone-linked to proximity to estuarine systems-promotes population differentiation. The results underscore spatial structuring and limited connectivity between populations, offering valuable insights into movement ecology. These patterns suggest that site fidelity or restricted dispersal plays a role in shaping population structure. Such knowledge can support targeted conservation and management strategies for coastal-estuarine ecosystems, particularly in maintaining adult fish stocks.

Null results are rarely reported yet are essential to establish realistic baselines for marine-seafood contamination. This dataset documents the first attempt to detect 17 widely used pharmaceuticals in edible tissues (muscle and liver) of commercially important Brazilian coastal fish (Centropomus parallelus, Cynoscion virescens, Nebris microps) and shrimp (Litopenaeus schmitti, Xiphopenaeus kroyeri) collected near Perequê Island (Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil). All analytes were below method detection limits (<LOD) by Liquid Chromatography coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), yielding a regionally relevant null-finding baseline for these targets at the time and place of sampling. To add interpretative value and support reuse, we provide a complementary in-silico screening for Persistence (P), Bioaccumulation (B), Toxicity (T), and Mobility (M) properties (PBT/PMT framework). The Excel workbook assembles identifiers; fate properties (organic carbon-water partition coefficient: logKoc/Koc, bioconcentration factor: BCF/logBCF, environmental half-life, ready biodegradability); aquatic toxicity (acute median effective/lethal concentrations: EC50/LC50; chronic value: ChV across algae, crustaceans, and fish); and Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) removal (total, sludge adsorption, biodegradation), together with traffic-light flags and priority scores/ranks. Predictions were generated using fixed-version tools, namely OPEn structure-activity Relationship App (OPERA v2.8), Estimation Programs Interface Suite (EPI Suite v4.11; including KOCWIN v2.00, BCFBAF v3.01, BIOWIN v4.10, and wastewater treatment plant outputs), Ecological Structure-Activity Relationships (ECOSAR v2.0), and SimpleTreat 4.0, all of which are traceable via evidence fields and conditional formatting. The dataset enables (i) transparent publication of non-detects, (ii) prioritization of substances that may still warrant focused monitoring due to PBT/PMT attributes despite current non-detection, and (iii) benchmarking against future measurements or higher-tier assessments in urban-coastal waters.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate, for the first time, the occurrence of twelve pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in the livers and muscles of five fish species in a Brazilian coastal zone. The species (Cathorops spixii, Genidens genidens, Bagre marinus, Larimus breviceps and Pellona harroweri) were selected based on their habitat, and presence in the human diet within the aforementioned coastal zone. The results demonstrated the presence of acetaminophen (ACE), benzoylecgonine (BEN), caffeine (CAF), cocaine (COC), and furosemide (FUR) in the fish tissues, with concentrations ranging from the limit of quantification (LOQ) to 9.17 ng g- 1. A comparative analysis of the species revealed that C. spixii exhibited the highest accumulation of pharmaceutical agents in both muscle and liver tissues. In particular, the detection of ACE (a compound with low lipophilicity) was observed exclusively in the muscle of C. spixii. Despite its low lipophilicity, the concentrations of CAF were quantified in B. marinus at a level higher than those in C. spixii, G. genidens and L. breviceps. One potential explanation for this observed bioaccumulation of CAF in these species is the historical detection of high concentrations of this compound in this coastal zone. Furthermore, the observed discrepancy between the high levels of COC in relation to BEN in the tissues of C. spixii and L. breviceps can be attributed to the low lipophilicity of BEN and moderate hydrophobicity of COC. Ultimately, the observed contamination has the potential to result in secondary human exposure to PhACs.