A simple approach to integrate the ecotoxicological and chemical data for the establishment of environmental risk levels

César, Augusto; Abessa, Denis Moledo de Souza; Pereira, Camilo Dias Seabra; Santos, Aldo Ramos; Fernández, Narciso de Gabriel; Choueri, Rodrigo Brasil; DelValls, T.À.

doi:10.1590/s1516-89132009000100028

Cited by 20 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…While analytical capabilities are ever improving, ecological and health-based screening criteria will always require site-specific adjustments to address unique confounding factors, particularly in cases of complex contaminant mixtures (Caeiro et al 2009; Cesar et al 2009; Mehler et al 2011). In such scenarios, biological effects-based assessments of sediment toxicity are necessary tools to guide remediation and management decisions, especially at locations where complex and spatially variable contaminant mixtures make large-scale chemical assessment impractical.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects-based spatial assessment of contaminated estuarine sediments from Bear Creek, Baltimore Harbor, MD, USA

Hartzell

Unger

McGee

et al. 2017

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Estuarine sediments in regions with prolonged histories of industrial activity are often laden to significant depths with complex contaminant mixtures, including trace metals and persistent organic pollutants. Given the complexity of assessing risks from multi-contaminant exposures, the direct measurement of impacts to biological receptors is central to characterizing contaminated sediment sites. Though biological consequences are less commonly assessed at depth, laboratory-based toxicity testing of subsurface sediments can be used to delineate the scope of contamination at impacted sites. The extent and depth of sediment toxicity in Bear Creek, near Baltimore, Maryland, USA, was delineated using 10-day acute toxicity tests with the estuarine amphipod Leptocheirus plumulosus, and chemical analysis of trace metals and persistent organic pollutants. A gradient of toxicity was demonstrated in surface sediments with 21 of 22 tested sites differing significantly from controls. Effects were most pronounced (100% lethality) at sites proximate to a historic industrial complex. Sediments from eight of nine core samples to depths of 80 cm were particularly impacted (i.e., caused significant lethality to L. plumulosus) even in locations overlain with relatively non-toxic surface sediments, supporting a conclusion that toxicity observed at the surface (top 2 cm) does not adequately predict toxicity at depth. In seven of nine sites, toxicity of surface sediments differed from toxicity at levels beneath by 28 to 69%, in five instances underestimating toxicity (28 to 69%), and in two instances overestimating toxicity (44 to 56%). Multiple contaminants exceeded sediment quality guidelines and correlated positively with toxic responses within surface sediments (e.g., chromium, nickel, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), total petroleum hydrocarbon). Use of an antibody-based PAH biosensor revealed that porewater PAH concentrations also increased with depth at most sites. This study informs future management decisions concerning the extent of impact to Bear Creek sediments, and demonstrates the benefits of a spatial approach, relying primarily on toxicity testing to assess sediment quality in a system with complex contaminant mixtures.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects-based spatial assessment of contaminated estuarine sediments from Bear Creek, Baltimore Harbor, MD, USA

Hartzell

Unger

McGee

et al. 2017

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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“…For environmental assessment, it is important to notice the low number of works using integrated approaches and/or in situ assays. Integrated approaches are needed for better decisionmaking and also to the establishment of public policies (Cesar et al, 2009). Multivariate analysis allows the integration of data of different natures, such as chemical analysis, toxicological assays and in situ analysis (e.g.…”

Section: What Are the Main Objectives Of Ecotoxicological Studies In mentioning

confidence: 99%

Key Issues in Aquatic Ecotoxicology in Brazil: A Critical Review

Krull¹,

Barros²

2024

Ecotoxicol. Environ. Contam.

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Several studies have been questioning and encouraging paradigms shift in ecotoxicology so it can better integrate ecological aspects. In tropical countries, like Brazil, it is still a developing issue. The present study aimed to evaluate the use of Aquatic Ecotoxicology in Brazil based on the following key issues: the criteria for test organism selection; the most used species, routes, types of exposures and endpoints, and; the importance given to multispecies and in situ tests. A total of 227 publications authored by Brazilian researchers were analyzed and it was observed that among the reasons for test organism selection, its origin (native species) was the most used. However, 48% of the reviewed studies did not report the reasons for species selection. Among the most used species are respectively: Daphnia magna, Daphnia similis, and Danio rerio. In situ assays, as well as multispecies test, represented less than 5% of all publications. Acute laboratory toxicity tests, using water as route of exposure evaluating mortality as endpoint were the most frequent tests. The present work identified that (i) the majority of assays used standardized tests with exotic species; (ii) few in situ methods were developed; (iii) few studies used sediment as route of exposure, and (iv) few methods were developed at higher levels of biological organization. Thus, the results of this work suggest that there is a need for more ecologically relevant tests, such as multispecies and in situ tests in Brazil.

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“…A component loading cutoff of 0.40 was used in selecting variables for inclusion into factors (Tabachnick & Fidell, 1996). Finally, to classify the samples, we used a cluster analysis (Bray Curtis distance; Group Average Link), as proposed by Cesar et al (2009).…”

Section: Statistical Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In order to separate the SSES tributaries with different degrees of sediments quality, according to geochemical and ecotoxicological properties, cluster analysis were conducted with each data set (Figures 4 and 5, to summer and winter, respectively), as proposed by Cesar et al (2009). In summer, due to the absence of data (such as CaCO 3 , PAHs and PCBs), the cluster analysis was unclear concerning degradation degrees and relationship among the sites.…”

Section: Multivariate Analysis Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sediment quality assessment of the tributaries of the Santos-São Vicente Estuarine System – Brazil

Perina

Torres

Mozeto

et al. 2018

Ecotoxicol. Environ. Contam.

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The Santos-São Vicente Estuarine System has a long history of environmental impacts, and several studies have been performed in this region. However, the quality of its tributaries was not previously studied. This study aimed to investigate the quality of sediments from five rivers (Santana, Mariana, Piaçabuçu, Quilombo, and Diana Rivers) and three sampling sites at Piaçaguera Canal (riverbed, right and left banks), by using an integrated approach involving chemical analyses and whole sediment toxicity tests. Chronic and acute toxicity tests were performed using, respectively, copepods Nitocra sp. and amphipods Tiburonella viscana. The studied sediments presented moderate to high levels of PAHs, PCBs, metals (Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn), and As. The majority of sediments produced chronic toxic effects, and samples from Piaçaguera Canal were consistently toxic in all acute and chronic tests. The integration of data through multivariate analyses indicated that the toxicity was closely related to the sediments contamination. Chemical data were compared with sediment quality guidelines, which evidenced that the sitespecific values are adequate to predict impacts. The levels of organic chemicals and metals suggest constant inputs from diffuse and point sources, demanding actions to ensure effective control and management of the contamination sources to the estuary.

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A simple approach to integrate the ecotoxicological and chemical data for the establishment of environmental risk levels

Abstract: ABSTRACT

Cited by 20 publications

References 8 publications

Effects-based spatial assessment of contaminated estuarine sediments from Bear Creek, Baltimore Harbor, MD, USA

Effects-based spatial assessment of contaminated estuarine sediments from Bear Creek, Baltimore Harbor, MD, USA

Key Issues in Aquatic Ecotoxicology in Brazil: A Critical Review

Sediment quality assessment of the tributaries of the Santos-São Vicente Estuarine System – Brazil

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