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Marine plastic litter (MPL) was collected from beaches (n = 3) of the Arauco Gulf in central Chile in spring 2021 and summer 2022. MPL was analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics, and plasticizers were also screened using FTIR-ATR. Three hundred seventeen plastic items with an accumulated weight of 226.8 g were found. MPL densities ranged from 0.4 to 17.1 items m-2. Significant differences (p < 0.05) between seasons were observed for Arauco and Maule beaches, being ∼ten times higher in summer compared to spring. Solid pieces were the predominant shape, macroplastics were the most abundant (>2.5 cm), and white and blue colors were dominant. Polypropylene (52 %) and polyethylene (31 %) were the predominant polymers. Plasticizers (n = 3) were detected in the MPL in the study area (dioctyl phthalate, polybutene, and alpha-methylstyrene) for the first time. This study contributes new information related to MPL in coastal areas of central Chile and their chemical composition.

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The chemical components of plastic wastes have made their disposal a major economic, social, and environmental problem worldwide. This study evaluated the acute toxicity and genotoxicity of marine plastic debris on the beaches of Concepción Bay, Central Chile, taken during three periods (spring, summer, and winter). An integrated approach was used, including chemical and toxicological data, using the Microtox® test with Vibrio fischeri and SOS chromotest with Escherichia coli and concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The results presented here exclusively include the novel data obtained from the winter campaign, revealing high concentrations of PBDEs (238 ± 521 ng g-1). In addition, the genotoxicity and acute toxicity tests were sensitive for most of the samples studied. This investigation is the first attempt to analyse the toxicity of plastic debris in coastal areas along the Chilean coast.

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Estuaries in Brazil are mostly anthropically affected due to the discharge of industrial and domestic effluents. In two of them, the Santa Cruz Channel Estuary (ITAP) and Sirinhaém River Estuary (SIR), historically affected by mercury pollution and sugarcane industry in Northeast Brazil, we assessed environmental pollution using liver and gill histopathological biomarkers in fish from different trophic levels. Liver samples exhibited serious damages such as hepatic steatosis, necrosis, and infiltration. The gills showed moderate to severe changes, such as lifting of epithelial cells, lamellar aneurysm, and rupture of lamellar epithelium. Most of the changes in the liver and gills were reported for species Centropomus undecimalis and the Gobionellus stomatus, which were considered as good sentinels of pollution. The combination of biomarker methodologies was efficient in diagnosing the serious damage to the species, reinforcing the need for monitoring the health of the ecosystems evaluated.

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The mineral wealth of the Amazon region is prone to intense exploration with consequent metals mobilization in ecosystems. Besides that, a number of other anthropogenic activities contribute to the imbalance of this important environment. The Pará River is an important water body in the Amazon basin and is under multiple anthropogenic influences, including disorderly urbanization, port activities and processing of minerals such as bauxite and kaolin. In this study, metals concentrations (Al, Cr, Pb, Ba, Ni, and Mn) in water, sediment and organisms (the fish Cheirocerus goeldii and the shrimp Macrobrachium amazonicum) and biochemical biomarkers (total antioxidant capacity, ACAP and lipid peroxidation, LPO) were analyzed along five points in the Para River with different distances to a center of anthropogenic activity, in three seasonal periods (rainy, transition and dry). Metals concentrations were similar among sites in each seasonal period but Aluminium (Al) presented the highest concentrations among all analyzed metals both in sediment and water considering all sampling points and all seasonal periods. In the dissolved fraction, Al had values above those established by the local environmental agency, especially during the rainy season. In the biotic compartment, both fish and shrimps showed higher concentrations of metals (Al and Ba) in the rainy season compared to the other seasons. Shrimp was more responsive to metal accumulation than fish, showing an adaptive response of biomarkers. Fish showed an increase of LPO in gills for individuals from the point of greater anthropogenic interference during the rainy season, but no differences in metal accumulation. We conclude that there is a seasonal pattern of metals concentration in different environmental compartments. Metal concentration in organisms and biomarkers responses, showed the effect of anthropogenic influences, which was not evident in results from chemical analyses alone, due to the intensive hydrodynamics in the region.

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The present field study aimed to assess the water quality of the Itacaiúnas River, located at the eastern part of the Brazilian Amazon, using water's physicochemical parameters, ecological risk assessment in sediments, biomarkers and metal bioaccumulation in piranhas at two points: upstream (P1) and downstream (P2), and the type of season (Dry and Rainy). We revealed a significant difference between the points and the seasons. Concerning, the concentration of metals (Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr, and Hg) in sediment and water, we reported significant concentrations of Cd and Cu especially on P2 at dry season. The fish gills collected in P2 showed various types of damages (moderate and severe), furthermore, the Degree of Tissue Change (DTC) reported a significant difference between points, highlighting the dreadful condition in animals' health originated from this point. In terms of the biotransformation enzyme, the GST activity was higher in fishes from P2 in both seasons. The obtained results showed clear signs of stress in fish from the downstream point. Linear correlation analysis exhibited that the biomarkers' response could be linked to the detected metals bioaccumulation. This field investigation provides baseline data on pollution status in this region and the results showed that although the overall potential ecological risks of the metals were considered low at our sampling sites including cadmium, however, Cd posed a noteworthy monomial potential ecological risk factor. Strong evidence of correlation was obtained between Cd in the environment with the gills' damage in fishes from P2. The results also indicated that S. rhombeus could be useful for biomonitoring species for assessing metal contamination.

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RESUMO Grande parte do lodo gerado em estações de tratamento de água (ETAs) no Brasil ainda é disposta em rios ou em aterros sanitários. Contudo, principalmente em grandes centros urbanos, legislações ambientais restritivas e custos logísticos crescentes têm levantado interesse em usos benéficos para esse resíduo. Para uma avaliação dos possíveis usos, além do conhecimento das características qualitativas do lodo, operadores e projetistas de ETAs devem ser capazes de prever, com algum grau de confiabilidade, sua massa e volume. Os objetivos deste trabalho são: comparar o desempenho de dois dos principais métodos quantitativos de estimativa de produção de lodo - o método de fórmulas empíricas e o de balanço de massa; investigar a prática disseminada de se estimar a concentração de sólidos em suspensão totais na água bruta por meio de modelos de regressão linear com a turbidez como variável independente e delinear condições para a aplicação dessa correlação.

ABSTRACT Most of the water treatment plant (WTP) residuals generated in Brazil are still discharged into water bodies, or disposed in landfills. However, especially in large urban areas, ever-stringent environmental legislation and rising logistical costs have put focus into beneficial uses for those residuals. To evaluate the possible beneficial uses, beyond the knowledge of qualitative characteristics of the residuals, operators and designers should be able to predict, with some degree of certainty, its mass and volume. The objectives of this work are: to compare the performance of two of the main quantitative estimation methods for residuals production - the empirical formulas and the mass balance; to investigate the widespread practice of estimating the concentration of total suspended solids using turbidity as a surrogate; and to identify the conditions under which such procedure is acceptable.

RESUMO

In this study, histological, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical observations of the gill tissue of two fish species (Plagioscion squamosissimus and Lithodoras dorsalis) were used as biomarkers to assess the ecological conditions of an estuary in the Amazon delta, by relating the health status of the fishes to environmental quality. The gill tissue was analyzed both qualitatively and semi-quantitatively. Marked differences in the type and severity of lesions were verified between species and among study sites. A variety of severe damages were confirmed histologically in specimens from the two impacted areas (B and C), including aneurysms, epithelial lifting, and intense hyperplasia. Electron microscopy and immunohistochemical analyses also revealed injuries in the gill tissue of specimens from these two areas. While, on area A only few specimens showed mild changes in gill tissues and rare marking of apoptosis. These results confirm the urgent need for the more effective control of the discharge of pollutants into the estuary as well as more effective urban planning, given the close proximity of a major industrial complex to residential areas.

Neste estudo foram utilizados biomarcadores histológicos, ultraestruturais e imunohistoquímicos em tecidos brânquiais de duas espécies de peixes, Plagioscion squamosissimus e Lithodoras dorsalis, para avaliar a situação ecológica em um estuário amazônico relacionando a saúde do peixe com a qualidade ambiental. O tecido branquial foi analisado qualitativamente e semiquantitativamente. Foram verificadas diferenças entre as espécies selecionadas e as áreas de estudo, no que se refere ao tipo e severidade das lesões no tecido branquial. Foi detectada uma variedade de alterações histopatológicas severas somente nos peixes capturados nas áreas B e C, tais como: Aneurisma, elevação epitelial e intensa hiperplasia. As análises de microscopia eletrônica e de imunohistoquímica confirmaram danos mais prejudiciais nas brânquias apenas nestas áreas de estudo. Enquanto que na área A poucos peixes apresentaram alterações leves nos tecidos e pouca marcação de apoptose. Estes resultados confirmam a necessidade de um efetivo controle dos dejetos de poluentes assim como um planejamento urbano eficaz nesta região, uma vez que esta área possui um complexo industrial importante próximo à área urbana.

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Neste estudo foram utilizados biomarcadores histológicos, ultraestruturais e imunohistoquímicos em tecidos brânquiais de duas espécies de peixes, Plagioscion squamosissimus e Lithodoras dorsalis, para avaliar a situação ecológica em um estuário amazônico relacionando a saúde do peixe com a qualidade ambiental. O tecido branquial foi analisado qualitativamente e semiquantitativamente. Foram verificadas diferenças entre as espécies selecionadas e as áreas de estudo, no que se refere ao tipo e severidade das lesões no tecido branquial. Foi detectada uma variedade de alterações histopatológicas severas somente nos peixes capturados nas áreas B e C, tais como: Aneurisma, elevação epitelial e intensa hiperplasia. As análises de microscopia eletrônica e de imunohistoquímica confirmaram danos mais prejudiciais nas brânquias apenas nestas áreas de estudo. Enquanto que na área A poucos peixes apresentaram alterações leves nos tecidos e pouca marcação de apoptose. Estes resultados confirmam a necessidade de um efetivo controle dos dejetos de poluentes assim como um planejamento urbano eficaz nesta região, uma vez que esta área possui um complexo industrial importante próximo à área urbana.(AU)

In this study, histological, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical observations of the gill tissue of two fish species (Plagioscion squamosissimus and Lithodoras dorsalis) were used as biomarkers to assess the ecological conditions of an estuary in the Amazon delta, by relating the health status of the fishes to environmental quality. The gill tissue was analyzed both qualitatively and semi-quantitatively. Marked differences in the type and severity of lesions were verified between species and among study sites. A variety of severe damages were confirmed histologically in specimens from the two impacted areas (B and C), including aneurysms, epithelial lifting, and intense hyperplasia. Electron microscopy and immunohistochemical analyses also revealed injuries in the gill tissue of specimens from these two areas. While, on area A only few specimens showed mild changes in gill tissues and rare marking of apoptosis. These results confirm the urgent need for the more effective control of the discharge of pollutants into the estuary as well as more effective urban planning, given the close proximity of a major industrial complex to residential areas.(AU)

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The environment quality of an industrial district on the river Pará, Amazon estuary, Brazil, based on the assessment of histological alterations and on the determination of catalase activity of the hepatic tissue of two fish species, Plagioscion squamossissimus and Lithodoras dorsalis, is provided. Histopathological changes were evaluated semi-quantitatively and qualitatively. Mean Assessment Values (MAV) and Histological Alteration Index (HAI) of organ lesions were calculated for each zone under analysis, with different impact levels: Zone 1 (industrial district, with high contamination risk); Zone 2 (medium risk) and Zone 3 (minimum risk). Strong positive catalase activity and histopathological changes were reported in Zone 1. None of the specimens of either species captured in Zones 1 and 2 was healthy, whereas more than 60% of the specimens from Zone 3 presented healthy hepatic tissue. The principal alterations observed in the tissue of the two species included an increase in the number of Melanomacrophagous centers, fatty degeneration, inflammation, congestion, hepatitis and focal necrosis. The carnivorous P. squamosissimus presented higher levels of alteration than the herbivorous L. dorsalis. Results showed that local anthropogenic impacts were affecting the health of the two fish species under analysis.(AU)

Com o presente estudo foi avaliada a qualidade ambiental em um distrito industrial no rio Pará, estuário Amazônico, Brasil, baseado nas alterações histológicas e na determinação da atividade da catalase no fígado para duas espécies de peixes: Plagioscion squamossissimus e Lithodoras dorsalis. As mudanças histopatológicas foram avaliadas semiquantitativamente e qualitativamente. Os Valores Médios de Avaliação (MAV) e o índice de alteração histológica (IAH) das lesões nos órgãos foram calculados para cada zona com diferentes níveis de impacto: Zona 1 (distrito industrial, com risco alto de contaminação); Zona 2 (risco médio) e Zona 3 (risco mínimo). Na Zona 1 foi observada, para as duas espécies, forte atividade catalase positiva e algum tipo de alteração histopatológica. Não foram observados indivíduos saudáveis nas Zonas 1 e 2. Na zona 3, mais de 60% dos espécimes estudados apresentaram tecido hepático saudável. As principais alterações observadas no tecido hepático para as duas espécies foram: aumento dos centros melanocacrófagos, degeneração gordurosa, inflamação, congestão, hepatite e necrose focal. A espécie carnívora P. squamosissimus apresentou níveis mais elevados de alteração que o herbívoro L. dorsalis. Estes resultados mostram que as alterações da qualidade ambiental no entorno do distrito industrial está afetando a saúde destas espécies de peixes.(AU)

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RESUMO

The environment quality of an industrial district on the river Pará, Amazon estuary, Brazil, based on the assessment of histological alterations and on the determination of catalase activity of the hepatic tissue of two fish species, Plagioscion squamossissimus and Lithodoras dorsalis, is provided. Histopathological changes were evaluated semi-quantitatively and qualitatively. Mean Assessment Values (MAV) and Histological Alteration Index (HAI) of organ lesions were calculated for each zone under analysis, with different impact levels: Zone 1 (industrial district, with high contamination risk); Zone 2 (medium risk) and Zone 3 (minimum risk). Strong positive catalase activity and histopathological changes were reported in Zone 1. None of the specimens of either species captured in Zones 1 and 2 was healthy, whereas more than 60% of the specimens from Zone 3 presented healthy hepatic tissue. The principal alterations observed in the tissue of the two species included an increase in the number of Melanomacrophagous centers, fatty degeneration, inflammation, congestion, hepatitis and focal necrosis. The carnivorous P. squamosissimus presented higher levels of alteration than the herbivorous L. dorsalis. Results showed that local anthropogenic impacts were affecting the health of the two fish species under analysis.

Com o presente estudo foi avaliada a qualidade ambiental em um distrito industrial no rio Pará, estuário Amazônico, Brasil, baseado nas alterações histológicas e na determinação da atividade da catalase no fígado para duas espécies de peixes: Plagioscion squamossissimus e Lithodoras dorsalis. As mudanças histopatológicas foram avaliadas semiquantitativamente e qualitativamente. Os Valores Médios de Avaliação (MAV) e o índice de alteração histológica (IAH) das lesões nos órgãos foram calculados para cada zona com diferentes níveis de impacto: Zona 1 (distrito industrial, com risco alto de contaminação); Zona 2 (risco médio) e Zona 3 (risco mínimo). Na Zona 1 foi observada, para as duas espécies, forte atividade catalase positiva e algum tipo de alteração histopatológica. Não foram observados indivíduos saudáveis nas Zonas 1 e 2. Na zona 3, mais de 60% dos espécimes estudados apresentaram tecido hepático saudável. As principais alterações observadas no tecido hepático para as duas espécies foram: aumento dos centros melanocacrófagos, degeneração gordurosa, inflamação, congestão, hepatite e necrose focal. A espécie carnívora P. squamosissimus apresentou níveis mais elevados de alteração que o herbívoro L. dorsalis. Estes resultados mostram que as alterações da qualidade ambiental no entorno do distrito industrial está afetando a saúde destas espécies de peixes.

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This work analyzes the morphological alterations in Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii gills and evaluates whether this species can be considered an environmental monitoring biomarker of Guajará Bay. Sampling was carried out in four areas around Belém, Brazil, in four annual periods: dry/wet season, wet season, wet/dry season and dry season. Water pH, temperature and suspended material were evaluated. A total of 36 specimens were collected. The second right gill arch of each animal was removed and immediately fixed and processed for histopathology analysis with light microscopy. The physicochemical analysis of the water during the study period showed slight acidity, temperature and material in suspension within normal levels. Histopathological analysis of the gills from 14 individuals from area I presented no alterations, and only 2 individuals from this area presented some significant type of alteration. In contrast, all individuals captured in areas II, III, and IV presented at least one of the following alterations: aneurism-like alterations, epithelial elevation, infiltration, cell proliferation and cell hypertrophy. Based on the gill histopathological analysis, this organ is considered a good biomarker and the native species B. rousseauxii could be used as a bioindicator for environmental monitoring.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar as alterações morfológicas branquiais em Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii e verificar se esta espécie pode ser considerada como indicador biológico para o monitoramento ambiental da baía do Guajará. As coletas aconteceram em quatro áreas ao redor da cidade de Belém: I (controle), II, III e IV (forte influência antrópica), nos quatro períodos anuais: estação seco/chuvoso, estação chuvoso, estação chuvoso/seco e estação seco. Nesses períodos foram medidos pH, temperatura e material em suspensão. Foram capturados 36 exemplares. O segundo arco branquial direito de cada animal foi retirado, imediatamente fixado e processado para análise histopatológica. A análise físico-química da água revelou pH levemente ácido, a temperatura e o material em suspensão se encontravam nos parâmetros de normalidade. As análises histopatológicas das brânquias de 14 animais da área I não apresentaram alterações branquiais e somente dois revelaram algum tipo de alteração. Todos os indivíduos capturados nas áreas II, III e IV apresentaram pelo menos uma das seguintes alterações: aneurisma, elevação epitelial, infiltração, proliferação celular, fusão lamelar e hipertrofia celular. De acordo com as análises histopatológicas branquiais, este órgão é considerado como um bom biomarcador e a espécie nativa B. rousseauxii pode ser utilizada como bioindicador no monitoramento ambiental.

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This work analyzes the morphological alterations in Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii gills and evaluates whether this species can be considered an environmental monitoring biomarker of Guajará Bay. Sampling was carried out in four areas around Belém, Brazil, in four annual periods: dry/wet season, wet season, wet/dry season and dry season. Water pH, temperature and suspended material were evaluated. A total of 36 specimens were collected. The second right gill arch of each animal was removed and immediately fixed and processed for histopathology analysis with light microscopy. The physicochemical analysis of the water during the study period showed slight acidity, temperature and material in suspension within normal levels. Histopathological analysis of the gills from 14 individuals from area I presented no alterations, and only 2 individuals from this area presented some significant type of alteration. In contrast, all individuals captured in areas II, III, and IV presented at least one of the following alterations: aneurism-like alterations, epithelial elevation, infiltration, cell proliferation and cell hypertrophy. Based on the gill histopathological analysis, this organ is considered a good biomarker and the native species B. rousseauxii could be used as a bioindicator for environmental monitoring.(AU)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar as alterações morfológicas branquiais em Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii e verificar se esta espécie pode ser considerada como indicador biológico para o monitoramento ambiental da baía do Guajará. As coletas aconteceram em quatro áreas ao redor da cidade de Belém: I (controle), II, III e IV (forte influência antrópica), nos quatro períodos anuais: estação seco/chuvoso, estação chuvoso, estação chuvoso/seco e estação seco. Nesses períodos foram medidos pH, temperatura e material em suspensão. Foram capturados 36 exemplares. O segundo arco branquial direito de cada animal foi retirado, imediatamente fixado e processado para análise histopatológica. A análise físico-química da água revelou pH levemente ácido, a temperatura e o material em suspensão se encontravam nos parâmetros de normalidade. As análises histopatológicas das brânquias de 14 animais da área I não apresentaram alterações branquiais e somente dois revelaram algum tipo de alteração. Todos os indivíduos capturados nas áreas II, III e IV apresentaram pelo menos uma das seguintes alterações: aneurisma, elevação epitelial, infiltração, proliferação celular, fusão lamelar e hipertrofia celular. De acordo com as análises histopatológicas branquiais, este órgão é considerado como um bom biomarcador e a espécie nativa B. rousseauxii pode ser utilizada como bioindicador no monitoramento ambiental.(AU)

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A espécie Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii constitui um dos recursos naturais de importância econômica para a região amazônica. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi analisar a histopatologia do fígado de B. rousseauxii como biomonitor da qualidade ambiental da baía do Guajará. Capturaram-se os exemplares em quatro áreas distintas: uma área-controle e três áreas identificadas como locais de lançamentos de resíduos sólidos e líquidos, em quatro períodos: intermediário-chuvoso, chuvoso, intermediário-seco e seco. Coletaram-se 36 espécimes. Após a coleta, os peixes eram submetidos à biometria e os fragmentos do fígado processados para análise em microscopia de luz. Os animais coletados apresentaram o comprimento médio total de 33,45cm (±7,72), peso total 239,21g (±135,24) e peso hepático de 1,22g (±0,56). A análise histopatológica mostrou que 70% dos peixes apresentaram alterações hepáticas, sendo diagnosticadas como hepatite, inflamação, degeneração gordurosa e congestão e 30% apresentaram a estrutura hepática bem organizada, sendo considerados indivíduos sadios. De acordo com as alterações hepáticas observadas e o número de indivíduos coletados, sugere-se o comprometimento da baía do Guajará e que a espécie B. rousseauxii provavelmente está adaptada às áreas onde foram registrados os lançamentos de poluidores ambientais.

The species Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii is one of the most important economic resources of the Amazon region. The objective of the present work was to analyze the histopathology of the liver of B. rousseauxii and to indicate this species as a biomonitor of the environmental quality of the Guajará Bay. Samples were collected in four areas: a control area and three areas identified as discharge sites of solid and liquid wastes. Sampling was carried out in four season periods: dry/wet season, wet season, wet/dry season and dry season. The number of collected specimens was 36. The fishes were submitted to biometry after catching. They presented mean total length of 33.45 cm (±7.72), total weight of 239.21 g (±135.24), and liver weight of 1.22 g (±0.56). Liver fragments were processed for light microscopy analysis. Histopathologic analysis demonstrated that 70% of the fish presented hepatitis, inflammation, fatty degeneration, and congestion, and that 30% presented well-organized liver structures, and they were considered healthy. The hepatic changes observed and the number of specimens collected suggest that the environmental quality of the Guajará Bay is affected and that the species B. rousseauxii is probably adapted to the areas where there are waste discharges.

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