Frequently new pollutants are released into the environment, demanding the employment of generic methods to detect toxic responses. In vitro bioassays such as the yeast estrogenicity screening (YES) allow detecting estrogenic and citotoxic compounds avoiding the employment of invasive methods. We determined the cytotoxicity and estrogenic activity in sediments of the Santa Lucia River Basin (Uruguay) using YES assay and the association with land uses and parameters of water quality and sediment. Water quality parameters confirm the eutrophication process of the Santa Lucía River, which was mainly reflected by high levels of TP and ammonium. High values of estrogenic activity in sediments (E2-EQ 8.49 ng g-1 of sediment) were found mainly in urbanized and cultivated areas. However, estrogenicity and cytotoxicity also was found in sites associated with other land uses such as rangelands. These data provide evidence that Santa Lucía River basin contains a variety of chemicals (including estrogenic and toxic chemicals of unknown and potentially diverse sources) that should be investigated further.YES assay proved to be a useful tool for characterizing estrogenic responses, and due to the human and ecological health importance, we suggest the employment of these kinds of bioassays as tools for environmental monitoring of EDCs substances.

Herbivorous fishes can be sensitive to environmental fluctuations, which influence both availability of food resources and metabolic rate, and thus nutritional requirements. Impacts on herbivore nutritional ecology may result from seasonal variations in temperature and meteoceanographic shifts such as wind-induced upwelling events. We evaluated the effects of seasonal changes on the nutritional ecology of 3 nominally herbivorous fishes (Acanthurus chirurgus , Sparisoma axillare and Kyphosus vaigiensis) in a subtropical rocky reef on the southeastern Brazilian coast using a combination of gut content analysis (at 2 scales of magnification) and stable isotope analysis. Sampling of in situ water temperature covered both patterns of seasonal variation in sea surface temperature, and seasonal occurrence of upwelling. Local upwelling occurred throughout the year but less frequently in winter. Diet and isotopic niche displayed little seasonal variation. Species-specific patterns of seasonal variation indicated distinct responses to environmental fluctuations. Temperature alone cannot explain the locality-specific variation in the nutritional ecology of herbivorous reef fish, and contrary to predictions that digestion in herbivorous fishes is impaired by cooler temperatures, no significant shifts in species’ nutritional ecology were detected.

In this study, we sampled for the first time the main channel of the Parnaiba Delta, the largest open sea delta in the Americas, and two of its secondary channels, during the rainy season. Continuous measurements of pCO2, temperature, salinity, and wind velocity were taken, while subsurface water samples were collected to analyze for dissolved oxygen, pH, total alkalinity, dissolved organic carbon, and its isotopic, chlorophyll-a, and nutrients. The spatial variability of pCO2 along the different channels showed the existence of distinct drivers of CO2 dynamics in the area. The correlation of pCO2 in freshwater samples with dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll-a indicated the incidence of organic matter decomposition and primary production in the main channel and mangroves, while the highest salinity samples evidenced the control of carbonate equilibrium in the river mouth. Our data also indicated an important influence of the river discharge on the carbon dynamics of the estuary, with around 73% of the CO2 emissions in the estuary estimated to be from riverine CO2. The strong river effect in the estuary was also supported by the low salinities (0.04-26.37), pH (7.09 + 0.36), and total alkalinity (328 + 530.46 mu mol kg-1), typical from fluvial waters. The estuary was supersaturated in CO2 and behaved as a strong source, with an average flux of 194.1 + 135.1 mmol m-2 d-1. (c) 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Rivers and estuaries are the main links between continents and oceans. The Paraíba do Sul River is among the most important rivers of the southeastern Brazilian region, carrying an average of 0.08 Tg of dissolved organic matter (DOM) to the ocean but has been facing significant changes in river discharge. In this study, we aimed to provide insights into the sources and transformations of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) sources across a salinity gradient under changing river discharge scenarios. Three spatial surveys were performed covering the entire salinity gradient of the main estuarine channel and surrounding mangrove waters under contrasting river discharge (178 to 1240 m3 s-1), and diel sampling was conducted in the mangrove tidal creek. The characterization of DOM through the parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) model identified six components across the river-ocean gradient and mangrove creek: terrestrial origin (C1 - fulvic acid and C2 and C3 - humic-like), protein-like (C4), tryptophan-like (C5), and tyrosine-like (C6). Our results showed a shift in DOM composition and contribution along the salinity gradient, from terrestrial (C3) to autochthonous (C5 and C6) signatures. The October-17 dry campaign was characterized by a higher proportion of microbial protein-like component C4 and a lower contribution of humic-like components compared to February-17 and March-18 across the salinity gradient with an increase in the mixing zone. The DOM compositions of the February 17 dry and March 18 wet campaigns were similar. Additionally, the March-18 wet campaign, marked by the highest river discharge, showed higher inputs of terrestrial DOM (C1-C3 components) compared to February-17 in the estuary, which allowed DOM to be transported rather than transformed. The mangrove diel study showed that tidal fluctuations are also an important driver of carbon input to the mangrove creek with a possible impact on DOM composition in estuarine waters.

Tropical coastal lagoons are highly productive environments exhibiting high biodiversity. However, the use of these ecosystems by local communities is of concern, since this generally leads to environmental degradation. The Imboassica coastal lagoon, located in Macaé city, in Northern Rio de Janeiro, is an important ecosystem in the state, however, already displaying signs of anthropogenic impacts. Carnivorous fish Hoplias malabaricus specimens were sampled from this impacted site, as well as from a reference area. Fish from Imboassica Lagoon presented lower condition factor, lower cholinesterase activity, and higher percentage of erythrocyte micronuclei when compared to fish from the reference site. Metals in fish from Imboassica Lagoon were always higher than Encantada Lagoon, with some seasonal differences, where some metals were higher in the rainy season compared to the dry season in muscle tissue, with the exception of Cu, Fe, Sr, and Zn; and in the liver, except for Ba, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Sr. Cr and Mn in the edible muscle portion of the fish were higher than the limits established by Brazilian and International legislations as permissible for human consumption, thus leading to concerns regarding public health risks for the local population that use fish as their main protein source.

Oceanographic cruises were carried out in October 2012 (3°S–5°S and 38,5°W–35,5°W) and in September 2014 (1°S–4°S and 43°W–37°W), measuring atmospheric and sea surface CO2 fugacity (fCO2) underway in the northeast coast of Brazil. Sea surface water samples were also collected for chlorophyll a, nutrients and DOC analysis. During the second cruise, the sampling area covered a transition between semi-arid to more humid areas of the coast, with different hydrologic and rainfall regimes. The seawater fCO2sw, in October 2012, was in average 400.9±7.3μatm and 391.1±6.3μatm in September 2014. For the atmosphere, the fCO2air in October 2012 was 375.8±2.0μatm and in September 2014, 368.9±2.2μatm. The super-saturation of the seawater in relation to the atmosphere indicates a source of CO2 to the atmosphere. The entire study area presents oligotrophic conditions. Despite the low concentrations, Chl a and nutrients presented significant influence on fCO2sw, particularly in the westernmost and more humid part of the northeast coast, where river fluxes are three orders of magnitude larger than eastern rivers and rainfall events are more intense and constant. fCO2sw spatial distribution presented homogeneity along the same transect and longitudinal heterogeneity, between east and west, reinforcing the hypothesis of transition between two regions of different behaviour. The fCO2sw at the eastern portion was controlled by parameters such as temperature and salinity. At the western portion, fCO2sw was influenced by nutrient and Chl a. Calculated instantaneous CO2 flux ranged from +1.66 to +7.24mmolm−2d−1 in the first cruise and +0.89 to +14.62mmolm−2d−1 in the second cruise.

Estuarine transitional waters constitute regions affected by or at risk of anthropogenic impact due to urbanization and industrial development. The elemental composition of the intertidal biofilm sediment is an excellent marker for the detection of any impact, and may exert a bottom-up influence by natural concatenation to higher organization levels (e.g. molecules, cells, organisms, communities). The distribution pattern of elemental composition (total and bioavailable fraction) along the estuary axes was analyzed, disentangling potential shifts produced by human activities. We predict that most abundant elements in the Rio de la Plata estuary are the natural earth-crust components and that these will not show any evident gradient along the estuarine axis. Elements involved in human related processes will shape concentration gradients from the most probable source (i.e. cities) indicating estuarine pollution. The research strategy involved the sampling of intertidal biofilm along the entire estuary and the registration of environmental variables and the total and bioavailable elemental composition. Sampling sites represent pristine, agricultural, and urbanized areas along a 428-km-long coastline comprising the inner, middle and outer Río de la Plata estuarine zones and a coastal fringe of oceanic beaches of Uruguay (South America). Biofilm sediment samples were collected in Autumn 2011 and digested for total and extractable (bioavailable) elements quantification measured by ICP-OES. Mercury (Hg) sediments were digested with aqua regia and quantified by cold vapor atomic absorption (CVAAS). The most abundant elements measured were Al, Fe, and Ca in all sampling. Anthropogenic marker elements such as Hg, Cr, Pb, Zn, and Cu were found, even at potentially toxic levels, at urban beaches at the city of Montevideo. The ordination of samples highlights the distinctive characteristics of urban beaches, placed in a particular location along the first principal component. This position is mainly driven by human impact marker metals and C/N ratios. The results highlight the value of bioavailable elemental composition analyses of benthic biofilm as a tool for detecting shifts in estuarine systems.

Damming rivers to construct hydroelectric reservoirs results in a series of impacts on the biogeochemical Hg cycle. For example, modifying the hydrodynamics of a natural watercourse can result in the suspension and transport of Hg deposits in the water column, which represents an exposure risk for biota. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influences of seasonality on the dispersion of total Hg in the Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP)-Samuel Reservoir (Porto Velho/Brazil). Sampling campaigns were performed during the three following hydrological periods characteristic of the region: low (Oct/2011), ebbing (May/2012), and high (Feb/2013) water. Sediment profiles, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and aquatic macrophytes (Eicchornia crassipes and Oryza spp.) were collected, and their Hg concentrations and isotopic and elemental C and N signatures were determined. The drainage basin significantly influenced the SPM compositions during all the periods, with a small autochthonous influence from the reservoir during the low water. The highest SPM Hg concentrations inside the reservoir were observed during the high water period, suggesting that the hydrodynamics of this environment favor the suspension of fine SPM, which has a higher Hg adsorption capacity. The Hg concentrations in the sediment profiles were ten times lower than those in the SPM, indicating that large particles with low Hg concentrations were deposited to form the bottom sediment. Hg concentrations were higher in aquatic macrophyte roots than in their leaves and appeared to contribute to the formation of SPM during the low water period. In this environment, Hg transport mainly occurs in SPM from the Jamari River drainage basin, which is the primary source of Hg in this environment.

Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic pollutant that poses in risk several marine animals, including green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Green turtles are globally endangered sea turtle species that occurs in Brazilian coastal waters as a number of life stage classes (i.e., foraging juveniles and nesting adults). We assessed total Hg concentrations and isotopic signatures (13C and 15N) in muscle, kidney, liver and scute of juvenile green turtles and their food items from two foraging grounds with different urban and industrial development. We found similar food preferences in specimens from both areas but variable Hg levels in tissues reflecting the influence of local Hg backgrounds in food items. Some juvenile green turtles from the highly industrialized foraging ground presented liver Hg levels among the highest ever reported for this species. Our results suggest that juvenile foraging green turtles are exposed to Hg burdens from locally anthropogenic activities in coastal areas.

Tropical oceans are characterized by low amounts of dissolved nutrients and high amounts of particulates in the biogenic layer and by increased dissolved nutrients and reduced particulates in the water masses of the biolytic layer. In this study, the hydrochemistry of the area included in the Campos Basin was evaluated at 72 sampling sites and six depths (surface, a second depth and the cores of deep water masses - up to 2300 m) during the summer and winter seasons of 2009. The vertical distribution of dissolved and particulate nutrients had patterns typical of permanently stratified tropical waters, and greater values were found on the continental shelf than on the slope, as expected. These results confirm that the continent is an important source of the materials found in the studied water masses. Additionally, the spatial variations observed are likely related to the South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) intrusion into the continental shelf in the Cabo Frio region and to eddies formation in the Cabo de Sao Tome region, where higher concentrations of dissolved and particulate nutrients were found. Despite the N:P ratio indicates limitation of primary producers by inorganic nitrogen, the particulated and dissolved organic N:P indicate a strong depletion of P relative to N, suggesting preferential degradation of that. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Given their potential for social and ecosystem disruption along with job creation and economic stimulus, the proliferation of extremely large-scale investment projects worldwide has created a dilemma for policymakers and public authorities. Although one method of balancing the varied interests of stakeholders is to require that development projects be sustainable, the definition of this concept has become muddled and few practical frameworks for its implementation have emerged. One strategy that does exist, however, is the just sustainability framework. The present study sought to assess the just sustainability of the Açu industrial seaport megaproject in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil through the application of a questionnaire among 60 active marine artisan fishers of a nearby community. The results indicate that the megaproject was not sustainable. Furthermore, the results of the just sustainability indicators triangulated both with the study's primary fisher ethnographic data and with peer-reviewed scientific assessments of similar projects, thus confirming the potential value of the just sustainability framework for assessment and policy formulation.

The Paraiba do Sul watershed is an important hydrological resource for southeastern Brazil, that has undergone extensive land use changes related to industrial, agricultural and urban activities. Over 11 years, between 1997 and 2007, a long-term study was conducted to evaluate hydrochemical variation in the basin outlet through estimations of annual fluxes and identification of their controlling factors. River water was classified as Na-HCO3, with TDS ranging from 32 to 132 mg L-1. Variation between seasons was found: cations, total alkalinity, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate and chlorophyll "a" had increased values the during low discharge period, while concentrations of DOC, ammonium, nitrite, phosphate and SPM had increased values during the high discharge period. Chloride, sulfate, silica and pH showed no clear relationship with discharge. These patterns also were correlated with hydrological flow paths originating from different sources. Wavelet decomposition was used to characterize precipitation anomalies largely associated both with long-term climate factors (i.e. ENSO) and short-term climate responses from the two discharge periods that were studied. Distinct responses of fluvial hydrochemistry were observed including ENSO-induced fluctuation to be particularly strong for DOC, with annual flux varying approximately 60% around measured median value. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V.

The environmental heterogeneity of the Campos Basin on the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro State was assessed by the benthic macrofauna on the platform adjacent to the Paraiba do Sul River (PSR) on the dry and rainy seasons. The samples were collected in triplicate from 33 sites using a van Veen grab during March 2009 a period of higher precipitation and flow rate - and July 2009 - a period of lower precipitation and flow rate. The grab depths ranged from 12 to 97 m and were grouped into three strata: 1: <25 m, 2: 25-50 m and 3: >50 m. The particle size, total carbonate and total organic carbon in each sample were analyzed. Subsamples for the macrofauna analysis were washed, sieved with a 500 mu m mesh and identified. The sediment was predominantly composed of sand, with mud pockets near the mouth of the river. The macrofauna included annelids, crustaceans, mollusks, echinoderms, cnidarians, nemerteans, cephalochordates, sipunculids and bryozoans. The density and richness were directly related to the depth, with both descriptors being higher during the rainy season and at depths greater than 50 m. This result is probably due to the higher availability of food in the river during this period and is corroborated by the predominance of deposit feeders in the deepest stratum. The number of individuals of each species was higher in the shallowest stratum, probably due to the higher productivity of this stratum. The rate of organic particulate matter flow from the coastal regions to the deeper regions can also be influenced by the material export dynamics of the river, which are more intense during the rainy season. These dynamics explain why a significantly higher number of individuals were observed in the rainy period in comparison to the dry one. Multivariate analyses identified differences between the sampling sites in the deepest stratum during both periods and revealed a stronger similarity between the shallow and intermediate strata, especially during the rainy season, which has a higher flow rate. These findings reinforce the influence of the Paraiba do Sul River on the structural pattern and composition of the benthic macrofauna of the internal platform (<50 m) on the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro. (c) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Brazilian coastal zone extends from 4º N to 34º S latitude and because of its long extension, the interface zone from continent to ocean includes a high diversity of geomorphologic and oceanographic characteristics. The rivers from the Northeast and East regions are marked by a typical unimodal seasonal flux patterns but with different amplitudes. As the climate indicates, the rivers from the Northeast are subject to an accentuated seasonal variability with an elevated input and flood pulses during the rainy season and low to negligible fluxes during the dry season. Small-scale rivers usually present typical torrential behaviour. In the humid eastern region, the unimodal seasonal cycle is dampened with a more constant input supply. Recently, some studies have shown that the material supply from rivers along the Northeast and Eastern coasts is diluted by surface tropical waters of oceanic currents and that the estuarine plume dispersal is restricted to a narrow coastal belt. However, human impacts of course mask or even override both natural hydrological cycles and CO2 emissions from terrestrial biomes, or depending on the nature of the human impact, can even increase extreme events. Henceforth this contribution addresses the typological, hydrological and biome diversity of the four estuarine systems fed and affected by the respective Amazon, São Francisco, Paraíba do Sul and Plata watersheds.

The soil organic matter is the largest reservoir of carbon in the natural systems, where carbon stability can be evaluated by analyzing the increase of the concentration of humic fractions. This study analyzed the C transport from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems in order to evaluate the quality and mobility of organic matter in different soil systems adjacent to "Lagoa de Cima" lake, an environmental protection area, in Campos of Goytacazes-Ri o de Janeiro State, Brazil. The study started with the characterization of different soils under the following covers: Atlantic Forest, grass marginal vegetation, sugar-cane agriculture and pasture. In each system soil samples were collected for the chemical fractioning of the organic matter and for an experiment of carbon leaching in soil columns. The results indicated that the carbon quality and mobility were different depending on the system sampled. The carbon leaching was related to the presence of less humic forms of organic matter.

In order to evaluate the spatial pattern for several metals (Fe, Cu, V, Zn, Pb, Cd and Cr) in bottom sediments from Industrial and Harbor...

Trace elements (Fe, Mn, Al, Zn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, Hg, and As) and stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) were analyzed in sediments, invertebrates, and fishes from a tropical coastal lagoon influenced by iron ore mining and processing activities to assess the differences in trace element accumulation patterns among species and to investigate relations with trophic levels of the organisms involved. Overall significant negative relations between trophic level (given by 15N) and trace element concentrations in gastropods and crustaceans showed differences in internal controls of trace element accumulation among the species of different trophic positions, leading to trace element dilution. Generally, no significant relation between δ15N and trace element concentrations was observed among fish species, probably due to omnivory in a number of species as well as fast growth. Trace element accumulation was observed in the fish tissues, with higher levels of most trace elements found in liver compared with muscle and gill. Levels of Fe, Mn, Al, and Hg in invertebrates, and Fe and Cu in fish livers, were comparable with levels in organisms and tissues from other contaminated areas. Trace element levels in fish muscle were below the international safety baseline standards for human consumption.

Lignin phenols were measured in the sediments of Sepitiba Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and in bedload sediments and suspended sediments of the four major fluvial inputs to the bay; São Francisco and Guandu Channels and the Guarda and Cação Rivers. Fluvial suspended lignin yields (Σ8 3.5–14.6mgC10gdw−1) vary little between the wet and dry seasons and are poorly correlated with fluvial chlorophyll concentrations (0.8–50.2μgCL−1). Despite current land use practices that favor grassland agriculture or industrial uses, fluvial lignin compositions are dominated by a degraded leaf-sourced material. The exception is the Guarda River, which has a slight influence from grasses. The Lignin Phenol Vegetation Index, coupled with acid/aldehyde and 3.5Db/V ratios, indicate that degraded leaf-derived phenols are also the primary preserved lignin component in the bay. The presence of fringe Typha sp. and Spartina sp. grass beds surrounding portions of the Bay are not reflected in the lignin signature. Instead, lignin entering the bay appears to reflect the erosion of soils containing a degraded signature from the former Atlantic rain forest that once dominated the watershed, instead of containing a significant signature derived from current agricultural uses. A three-component mixing model using the LPVI, atomic N:C ratios, and stable carbon isotopes (which range between –26.8 and –21.8‰) supports the hypothesis that fluvial inputs to the bay are dominated by planktonic matter (78% of the input), with lignin dominated by leaf (14% of the input) over grass (6%). Sediments are composed of a roughly 50–50 mixture of autochthonous material and terrigenous material, with lignin being primarily sourced from leaf.

The marine ecosystems of Todos os Santos Bay (TSB, The State of Bahia, Brazil) have been impacted by the presence on its coast of a large metropolitan area as well as of chemical and petrochemical activities. Despite its ecological importance, there is a lack of scientific information concerning metal contamination in TSB marine biota. Thus, we analyzed concentrations of metals in four species of marine benthic organisms (two seaweeds, Padina gymnospora and Sargassum sp. one seagrass, Halodule wrightii and one oyster, Crassostrea rhizophorae) in three sites from the TSB region that have been most affected by industrial activities. The concentrations of Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophometry. The obtained data indicates that cadmium and copper in seaweeds, oysters and seagrass, as well as Ni concentrations in oysters, were in range of contaminated coastal areas. Cadmium and copper are available to organisms through suspended particles, dissolved fraction of water column and bottom sediment interstitial water. As oysters and other mollusks are used as food sources by the local population, the metal levels found in oysters in TSB may constitute a health risk for this population. Our results suggest implanting a heavy metals biomonitoring program in the TSB marine ecosystems.