Composition and behaviour of heavy metals in suspended sediments in a tropical estuarine system

Melo, Gustavo Vaz de; Neto, José Antônio Baptista; Malm, Olaf; Fernandez, Marcos Antônio; Patchineelam, Soraya Maia

doi:10.1007/s12665-014-3491-3

Cited by 17 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 39 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Although some studies have indicated that the pore water circulation regimen is more important than the sedimentary environment in the intertidal biogeochemical process 61 , our results emphasize that it is also important to take the sedimentary environment into account when considering the interactions between the land and the ocean. The present study, in accord with some previous research 62 – 64 , reveals that the change in the sedimentary and transport process has important roles in the distribution of the element contents at multiple scales and locations.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Artificial topography changes the growth strategy of Spartina alterniflora, case study with wave exposure as a comparison

Hong

Dai

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper reports findings about the growth of Spartina alterniflora (Loisel.) near an engineered coastal protection defences to discover the potential influences on vegetation growth from the artificial topography. Impacts of the artificial topography on the sediment element composition were detected by comparing the fixed effects caused by artificial topography and wave exposure using linear mixed models. Surficial sediments under the impacts of artificial topography contain elevated levels of biogenic elements and heavy metals, including C (and organic carbon), N, S, Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb. The results showed that element enrichment caused by artificial topography reduced the vegetation sexual reproduction. Contrary to the potential inhibition caused by direct wave exposure, which was due to the biomass accumulation limit, the inhibition caused by artificial topography was related to the transition of growth strategy. The contents of Cu, Mn, N, Ni, S and As in the sediments were critical in considering the relationship between the change in the sediment element composition and the alteration in the plant growth. Our study emphasizes the importance of rethinking the impacts of coastal development projects, especially regarding the heterogeneity of sediment element composition and its ecological consequences.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Artificial topography changes the growth strategy of Spartina alterniflora, case study with wave exposure as a comparison

Hong

Dai

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The channel is 400 m wide, stretching from the mouth more than 5 km into the bay, and is defined by the 30 m isobath. The deepest point of the bay measures 58 m and is located within the main channel (Melo et al 2015). According to these same authors, the channel loses its characteristics north of Rio de Janeiro-Niterói Bridge, as the bay rapidly becomes shallower, with an average depth of 5.7 m, due to high sedimentation rates, accelerated in the past century by anthropogenic activities in the catchment area.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is important to highlight that the samplings were carried out at high tide and during a high rainfall period. Therefore, the results may be related to factors that contribute to water quality alterations, such as tidal influence, circulation, winds and rainfall patterns, among others (Melo et al 2015). Water quality assessments are paramount since the challenge of sanitation in Brazil is still far from being overcome.…”

Section: Physicochemical Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estrogenic Activity and Endocrine Disruptor Compounds Determined in Guanabara Bay (Brazil) by Yeast Estrogen Screen Assays and Chemical Analyses

Nascimento¹,

Santos²,

Cunha³

et al. 2022

Anu. Inst. Geociênc.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Studies assessing the presence of endocrine disrupting compounds in marine environments have increased in the last decades. In Brazil, the combination of poor sanitation conditions and low investment in sewage treatment plants leads to significant contamination of receiving waters. The risks of these micropollutants in the aquatic biota include biochemical and histopathological alterations of the liver, gonads, and kidneys, as well as, reproductive process and development modifications, and behavioral changes, among others. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of the surface and deep waters of Guanabara Bay, southeastern Brazil, regarding the presence of estrogenic substances. Acute toxicity assays were also conducted employing Vibrio fischeri. The estrogenic activity of the water samples was determined by Yeast Estrogen Screen assay and the quantification of the Bisphenol A, estriol, 17β-estradiol, and 17α-ethinylestradiol by high-performance liquid chromatography, using fluorescence and diode array detectors. Estrogenic activity ranged from 9 to 77 ng L-1 of estradiol equivalents. The highest micropollutants concentrations were detected for bisphenol A (298.5 and 465.5 ng L-1), followed by 17α-ethinylestradiol (248 and 256.9 ng L-1), estriol (70.7 and 179.6 ng L-1), and 17β-estradiol (167 and 174.8 ng L-1) for surface and deep waters, respectively. The findings indicate significant risks for the Guanabara Bay ecosystem. No acute toxicity effects were observed in the V. fisheri assay. These data reflect the current environmental degradation situation of the bay’s waters and highlight the need for the systematic monitoring of this important estuary.

show abstract

“…Hg contamination in this bay originates from several diffuse sources, including river contamination plumes, atmospheric deposition, landfill runoff, and a chlor-alkali plant on the northwestern side of the bay (Covelli et al, 2012). Oceanic currents and a local upwelling phenomenon in this area, in turn, lead to significant Hg exports to neighboring coastal areas (da Carreira et al, 2012;de Melo et al, 2015;Martins et al, 2016). Thus, Hg contamination at both Copacabana and Recreio may be expected and have been reported previously for several marine biota fish.…”

Section: Biometric Sharpnose Shark Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury screening in highly consumed sharpnose sharks (Rhizoprionodon lalandii and R. porosus) caught artisanally in southeastern Brazil

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sharpnose sharks Rhizoprionodon lalandii and R. porosus are frequently captured in fishing activities in Brazil and are significantly consumed by humans, especially in southeastern Brazil. Both species lack population data and suffer intense fishing pressures and habitat degradation, consequently hindering adequate management and conservation actions. In this context, this study aimed to assess mercury (Hg) contamination in R. lalandii, and R. porosus sampled off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, addressing both animal health and public health risks. Sharks were obtained from two artisanal fishing colonies in southeastern Brazil (Copacabana and Recreio dos Bandeirantes), located on the coastal zone adjacent to Guanabara Bay, one of the most important, productive, and contaminated estuaries in Brazil, and a further three artisanal fishing colonies from the Região dos Lagos area (Saquarema, Cabo Frio and Rio das Ostras). Hg concentrations in liver, muscle, and brain in R. lalandii (n = 24) and R. porosus (n = 20) specimens were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. A gravid female measuring 112 cm from Copacabana is the first record for an individual of this size for R. lalandii. No correlation between length and muscle Hg concentrations was observed, and no differences between Hg concentrations for muscle or liver were found between male and female juveniles from either Cabo Frio or Rio das Ostras. No differences in Hg loads were observed herein for both assessed species. Low Hg bioaccumulation in juveniles and nongravid female muscle tissue was noted compared to significantly higher Hg concentrations in gravid females. Hg was detected in all embryos, indicating potential maternal offloading. As Hg thresholds for sharks in particular have not yet been established, whether the Hg concentrations detected in brain pose neurotoxic risks for these animals is not known. Public health concerns concerning adult R. lalandii consumption from Copacabana, however, are significant.

show abstract

Composition and behaviour of heavy metals in suspended sediments in a tropical estuarine system

Cited by 17 publications

References 39 publications

Artificial topography changes the growth strategy of Spartina alterniflora, case study with wave exposure as a comparison

Artificial topography changes the growth strategy of Spartina alterniflora, case study with wave exposure as a comparison

Estrogenic Activity and Endocrine Disruptor Compounds Determined in Guanabara Bay (Brazil) by Yeast Estrogen Screen Assays and Chemical Analyses

Mercury screening in highly consumed sharpnose sharks (Rhizoprionodon lalandii and R. porosus) caught artisanally in southeastern Brazil

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About