Effects of Seasonality on the Environmental Quality of the Itanhaém Estuary

Surfactants in sediment of Itanhaém Estuary, São Paulo, Brazil

“…There is toxicity in the sediment of the Itanhaém Estuary near the STP. There are also higher concentrations of nutrients than those established by Brazilian regulation for water bodies (Cesar-Ribeiro & Rosa, 2021;Rosa, 2009), which are attributed to tourism in the city during summer. The Itanhaém Estuary had low contamination levels at most of the sampling points due to its sizable fluvial discharge, being the second largest estuary in São Paulo.…”

“…Due to the importance of surfactants in the marine ecosystem, this study aimed to use colorimetric methods with methylene blue active substances (MBAS) to determine anionic surfactant levels in an estuarine area of Itanhaém, São Paulo, Brazil. The selected estuarine ecosystem was chosen due to concerns of surfactants from the flow of several rivers (Itanhaém, Black and White rivers and tributaries; the Mambu and Aguapeu rivers; and small tributaries such as Guaú and Campininha mangrove channels) that enter the marine ecosystem (Cesar-Ribeiro & Rosa, 2021). Since anionic surfactants play a significant role in detergent formulations for domestic and industrial use, and the high worldwide consumption of LASs, this component has been the target of research in environmental monitoring and control.…”

“…Another is increased construction of homes close to the river, which results in the removal of riparian forest and interferes with water and sediment quality due to the release of domestic sewage. Urbanization along the margins of marine and estuarine environments aggravates the introduction of an increasing diversity of chemical elements via domestic and industrial effluents (Cesar-Ribeiro & Rosa, 2021;Tommasi, 1979). Thus, the concentrations of detergents in the sediment of the Itanhaém River and its tributaries need to be evaluated and the region requires monitoring to determine any possible outbreaks and anthropic activities (residents and vacationers) responsible for the release of surfactants into the aquatic environment.…”