Multiproxy analysis in contaminated sediments from Niterói Harbour (Guanabara Bay), Brazil

Estrogenic activity and acute toxicity assessments of sediments from a chronically polluted estuarine area in southeastern Brazil

“…The most similar results for the findings reported herein according to the Bulich toxicity classification were those obtained by Freitas et al. (2022) who analyzed five samples from the Niterói Harbour in Brazil, reporting all as positive for toxicity, with high toxicity values according to the Bulich scale (1982). Exposure to environmental pollutants such as endocrine‐disrupting compounds is now accounted for as one of the partial explanations for biodiversity declines observed in aquatic ecosystems (Zhou et al., 2010).…”

“…In one study, Vethaak et al (2017), analyzed 11 estuarine and coastal environments samples from the North Sea, in Europe, reporting that all sediment samples led to decreased V. Fischeri bioluminescence, ranging from 2.4 to 52.6 L exposed per mg, while samples from Portuguese estuaries analyzed by Serafim et al (2013) did not exhibit acute toxicity. The most similar results for the findings reported herein according to the Bulich toxicity classification were those obtained by Freitas et al (2022) who analyzed five samples from the Niterói Harbour in Brazil, reporting all as positive for toxicity, with high toxicity values according to the Bulich scale (1982). Exposure to environmental pollutants such as endocrine-disrupting compounds is now accounted for as one of the partial explanations for biodiversity declines observed in aquatic ecosystems (Zhou et al, 2010).…”

“…(2018) and Nascimento et al. (2022), affecting organisms such as dinoflagellate cysts, mussels and fish among others (Gu et al., 2016; Ghosh et al., 2022; Freitas et al., 2022). Due to a disorderly human occupation in its surroundings, the presence of several industries and lack of adequate sanitation, among others, Guanabara Bay is characterized as one of the most polluted coastal zones in Brazil, considered a hypereutrophic bay.…”

“…It is important to highlight that Guanabara Bay is strongly influenced by anthropogenic activities and continuously suffers from urbanization and industrialization processes, leading to an extremely polluted environment, also heavily impacted by chemicals accumulated in sediments throughout time. Many pollutants have been detected in this area, such as high metal concentrations in sediments reported by Baptista Neto et al (2006) and in surface and deep water by Nascimento et al (2018) and Nascimento et al (2022), affecting organisms such as dinoflagellate cysts, mussels and fish among others (Gu et al, 2016;Ghosh et al, 2022;Freitas et al, 2022). Due to a disorderly human occupation in its surroundings, the presence of several industries and lack of adequate sanitation, among others, Guanabara Bay is characterized as one of the most polluted coastal zones in Brazil, considered a hypereutrophic bay.…”