Investigation on the mancozeb toxicity in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Agriculture has gained increasing importance in response to the continuous growth of the world population and constant need for food. To avoid production losses, farmers commonly use pesticides. Mancozeb is a fungicide used in agriculture as this compound is effective in combating fungi that harm crops. However, this fungicide may also produce damage to non-target organisms present in soil and water. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the influence of exposure to mancozeb on survival rate, locomotor activity, behavior, and oxidative status utilizing adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model following exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of this pesticide. The experimental groups were negative control, positive control, and mancozeb (0.3; 1.02; 3.47; 11.8 or 40 µg/L). Zebrafish were exposed to the respective treatments for 96 hr. Exposure to mancozeb did not markedly alter survival rate and oxidative status of Danio rerio. At a concentration of 11.8 µg/L, the fungicide initiated changes in locomotor pattern of the animals. The results obtained suggest that the presence of mancozeb in the environment might produce locomotor alterations in adult zebrafish, which subsequently disrupt the animals' innate defense mechanisms. In nature, this effect attributed to mancozeb on non-target organisms might result in adverse population impacts and ecological imbalance.

Bioaccumulation of metals in Spartina alterniflora salt marshes in the estuary of the World's Largest Choked Lagoon.

Salt marshes are capable of mitigating metal pollution in coastal environments, yet the efficacy of this remediation is contingent upon various environmental factors and the plant species involved. This study investigates the influence of different anthropogenic activities, including industrial, urban, recreational (in an insular area), and dredging operations, on the bioaccumulation of eight metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) within Spartina alterniflora Loisel. in the Patos Lagoon estuary, Brazil. The research aims to assess the pattern of metal bioaccumulation and distribution within the plant's leaves, stems, and roots while also examining metal presence in the sediment. Our main findings reveal that S. alterniflora exhibited elevated metal levels in its plant structure directly related with the metal concentrations in the surrounding sediment, which, in turn, is related to the different anthropogenic activities. The industrial area presented the highest metal levels in sediment and plant sections, followed by dredging, insular, and urban areas. This same pattern was mirrored for the bioconcetration factors (BCF), with the BCFs consistently indicating active metal bioaccumulation across all areas and for most of the metals. This provides evidence of the metal bioaccumulation pattern in S. alterniflora, with elevated BCFs in areas affected by activities with a higher degree of impact. Translocation factors (TF) showed varying metal mobility patterns within the plant's below-ground and above-ground sections across the different areas, with only Hg exhibiting consistent translocation across all study areas. Zn was the primary metal contributor in all plant sections, followed by Pb and Cu. It is worth noting that Pb is a non-essential metal for this plant, highlighting the relationship between elevated Pb contributions in the plant sections and the bioaccumulation of this metal within the plant's structure. Overall, this study emphasizes the bioaccumulation capacity of S. alterniflora and elucidate the intrinsic connection between different anthropogenic activities and their impact on the resultant availability and bioaccumulation of metals by this salt marsh plant.

Mercury exposure in riverine populations of Terra do Meio Extractive Reserves in the Xingu basin, Amazon, Brazil.

Amazon is a hotspot for mercury (Hg) contamination and Terra do Meio region, despite its protected status for sustainable use, has never been monitored for this element. Looking to address this gap, this study aimed to quantify capillary Hg concentration in riverine populations of Terra do Meio (Xingu Basin, Central Amazon, Brazil) and associated factors with high Hg levels (90 percentile). Hair samples from 182 individuals from Iriri, Riozinho do Anfrísio and Xingu Extractive Reserves (RESEX), aged between 18 and 70 years old, were collected to measure total mercury levels (HgT), and socioeconomic, demographic, and clinical-epidemiological data were annotated. Overall, high levels of Hg were observed (mean 4.985 µg/g, median 3.531 µg/g) with significant differences between localities. Among the factors related to high capillary Hg levels, male gender, smoking habit, work in agriculture, livestock or extractivism, and residence in Iriri and Riozinho do Anfrísio RESEX were highlighted. A high prevalence of symptoms related to Hg intoxication, including anxiety, memory deficit, and lower limb problems, was observed. Overall, the results reveal that communities in these RESEXs are exposed to Hg and appear to be suffering from chronic health effects. Considering the increased anthropogenic alterations observed recently in the Amazon region and the subsequent amplified environmental bioavailability of Hg, further studies and mitigating actions are critical. This includes better surveillance of illegal anthropic activities and provision of ongoing education on this matter and incentives for dietary adaptations.

Human health risk assessment of metals in soil samples of a Brazilian city with a historic contamination complex.

Rio Grande is a city located on a narrow industrialized and urbanized Brazilian peninsula, characterized by wetlands. Due to population growth, numerous urban backfilled regions were built to expand the territorial area of the city. Currently, more than 60% of the central area of the city comes from the grounding of wetlands. The material used for the expansion of the territory had a history of contamination from metals from the tannery and textile industries (mainly Hg) and urban solid waste. In addition to past sources, the city has an active industrial complex with fertilizer, petrochemical, and grain industries. This study evaluated the risks to human health caused by metals (Hg, Fe, Ni, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in original soils and backfills, considering the oral, inhalation, and dermal routes of exposure for children and adults using the tool human health risk assessment (HHRA) proposed methodology by USEPA. A total of 63.81% of the original soil samples and 57.14% of the backfill soil samples showed a non-carcinogenic risk (HInc>1) for at least one evaluated metal. Still, approximately 10% of the samples presented carcinogenic risk when the Cr was considered in the hexavalent form. The dermal (Hg, Ni, and Cr) and oral (Fe, Cu, and Zn) exposure routes had the greatest contribution to the total risk. The non-carcinogenic risk for Hg, Cr(VI), and Pb was heterogeneously distributed between the original soils and backfills and associated with the proximity to some pollution sources. Given the complexity of historical occupation in the municipality and the increasing industrialization, both the original areas and the backfills should be included in the risk management strategy to minimize risks.

Epidemiological profile, temporal analysis, and future projections of suicide cases in rural cities in the extreme south of Brazil.

The present study aimed to verify the time series (2000-2017) of death rates by suicide and its associated factors in 4 municipalities in the extreme south of Brazil. Data were obtained through the analysis of medical reports and police report bulletins at the Instituto Médico Legal, in the city of Rio Grande. The suicide rate in the Rio Grande region varied from 4 to 11 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants and it is estimated that by 2030 this rate could reach 16.5 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants. The rural cities of Santa Vitória do Palmar and Chuí present even higher suicide averages when compared to Rio Grande, the most populous city of the four. The death rate from suicide increased gradually in the period analyzed, with the prevalence rising among the youngest and the elderly population. A more comprehensive understanding of the influences of environmental issues on suicidal decisions constitutes an important action that needs to be taken, both because of regional vulnerabilities and the target population identified. Evidence indicates that knowledge of factors affecting individuals residing in this Brazilian region where increased suicide rates are recorded needs to be recognized as a priority.

Oxidative effects of consuming microplastics in different tissues of white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei.

In this study, we evaluated the effect of microplastic (MP, polystyrene, 1.1 µm) exposure through diet at two different levels (40 and 400 µg MP/kg of ration) in the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei for seven days. After the exposure period, oxidative stress parameters, histological alterations, and MP accumulation in different shrimp tissues (gut, gills, hepatopancreas, and muscle) were also evaluated. The results showed that MP was detected in the gills, muscles, and hepatopancreas. In addition, in the gut, gills, and hepatopancreas, disruption in redox cells was observed. Also, lipid and DNA damage was evident in the hepatopancreas. Histopathological analysis revealed edema in the intestine, hepatopancreas, and in the muscle. Granuloma formation with infiltrated hemocytes occurred in the intestine and hepatopancreas. These results show that MP exposure can affect the health and welfare of L. vannamei and may also affect the final consumers once MP is accumulated.

Beneficial effects of mate-herb, Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil. against potassium dichromate-induced oxidative stress and nephrotoxicity.

Chimarrão is a typical beverage made from the infusion of dried and ground leaves and stems of Ilex paraguariensis (popularly known as Yerba mate or mate herb) which is widely consumed in parts of South America. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the chimarrão against nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by the potassium dichromate (PD) salt in male Wistar rats. The experiment lasted 17 days, and in the first 15 days animals ingested a chimarrão infusion or control drinking water and then submitted to an intraperitoneal injection (15 mg/kg) of PD (or saline solution) and euthanized after 48 hr at which time animals still received infusion or drinking water. Blood plasma and 24 hr-urine samples were collected to measure creatinine levels as an estimate of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Concomitantly oxidative stress was determined in the kidneys as evidenced by levels of carbonyl groups, malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals. Potassium dichromate induced oxidative stress in the kidneys and reduced GFR. Treatment with chimarrão during the 15 days prior to PD injection reduced PD salt-mediated oxidative stress. Further, treatment with post-injection chimarrão to PD-administered rats improved the GFR. Our findings support that the use of the chimarrão beverage may be considered as an important nephroprotective substance.

Human health risk assessment of air pollutants in the largest coal mining area in Brazil.

The Candiota region, located in the extreme south of Brazil, has the largest mineral coal deposit in the country, and this activity is capable of releasing pollutants in which they are associated with the contamination of different matrices (soil, water, and air). The present study aimed to carry out a risk assessment to human health of atmospheric pollutants NO2 and SO2 and PM10-bound metal(loid)s in the municipality of Candiota, in addition to evaluating the correlation of meteorological parameters for the dynamics and potential risk of these pollutants. Pollutants were sampled from stations located almost 4 km from coal exploration activities, and the trace elements As, Cd, Se, Pb, and Ni, in addition to NO2 and SO2, were evaluated. Risk assessment was conducted taking into account the risk to adults via the inhalation route. During the sampling period, all pollutants presented values lower than national legislation or internationally accepted values, and Pb was the element that presented the highest values throughout the sampled period. The risk assessment showed no carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks, even when considering the sum of the risk of all analyzed pollutants. It can be observed that the highest levels of Pb, As, and Se occurred in the winter season, while the levels of Ni and Cd were higher in the spring, and the meteorological parameters were correlated with the pollutants, even using a temporal lag of 5 days. Although the air pollutants evaluated did not present a risk to human health, continuous monitoring of regions with strong mineral exploration activity must be carried out with a view to maintaining the well-being of exposed populations, mainly because there are people living in areas closer to sources of coal pollution than distance to air quality monitoring stations.

Recycled polyvinyl chloride microplastics: investigation of environmentally relevant concentrations on toxicity in adult zebrafish.

Recycled polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics have been detected in the aquatic environment. These recycled microparticles contain chemicals that are released into the environment reaching different organisms. Although the problem of the presence of recycled PVC microparticles in the environment is evident, the toxicological consequences of this contaminant to exposed organisms remains to be better determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the toxicity attributed to exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of recycled PVC microplastics in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). The experimental groups were: negative control, vehicle control, positive control, and recycled microplastics (20 ± 5 µm) at 5, 10 or 20 µg/L. Zebrafish (D. rerio) were exposed to respective treatments for 96 hr. Locomotion and oxidative status parameters were measured and mortality recorded. The positive control group presented increased mortality rates and decreased locomotor activity. Animals from the vehicle group did not show marked differences. Finally, no significant disturbances were found in survival rate, locomotion pattern and oxidative status of animals exposed to recycled PVC microparticles at 5, 10 or 20 µg/L. Taken together our results suggest that recycled PVC microplastics in this particle size range do not appear to exert harmful effects on exposed adult D. rerio. However, these results need to be carefully observed due to limitations including size of particle and duration of exposure parameters that might affect ecological consequences. It is suggested that additional studies applying other particles sizes and chronic exposure are needed to more comprehensively verify the toxicity of the contaminant investigated here.

Oxidative damage in the Vesper mouse (Calomys laucha) exposed to a simulated oil spill-a multi-organ study.

Small wild mammals have been used to measure the damage caused by exposure to oil-contaminated soil, including deer mice. However, the study of toxic effects of crude oil using oxidative damage biomarkers in the wild rodent Calomys laucha (Vesper mouse) is absent. This investigation aimed to evaluate the effects of acute exposure to contaminated soil with different concentrations of crude oil (0, 1, 2, 4 and 8% w/w), simulating an accidental spill, using oxidative stress biomarkers in the liver, kidneys, lungs, testes, paw muscle, and lymphocytes of C. laucha. Animals exposed to the contaminated soil showed increases in lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation at the highest exposure concentrations in most organ homogenates analyzed and also in blood cells, but responses to total antioxidant capacity were tissue-dependent. These results showed that acute exposure to oil-contaminated soil caused oxidative damage in C. laucha and indicate these small mammals may be susceptible to suffer the impacts of such contamination in its occurrence region, threatening the species' survival.

A comprehensive overview of genotoxicity and mutagenicity associated with outdoor air pollution exposure in Brazil.

This review examined the mutagenicity and genotoxicity associated with exposure to outdoor air pollutants in Brazil. A search was performed on the Web of Science database using a combination of keywords that resulted in 134 articles. After applying exclusion criteria, a total of 75 articles were obtained. The articles were classified into three categories: (1) studies with plants and animals, (2) in vitro studies, and (3) human biomonitoring. The investigations were conducted in 11 of 27 Brazilian states with the highest prevalence in the southeast and south regions. Only 5 investigations focused on the effects of burning biomass on the quality of outdoor air. Plants, especially Tradescantia pallida, were the main air pollution biomonitoring tool. When available, a significant association between levels of air pollutants and genetic damage was described. Among the in vitro studies, Salmonella/microsome is the most used test to evaluate mutagenesis of outdoor air in Brazil (n = 26). Human biomonitoring studies were the least frequent category (n = 18). Most of the investigations utilized micronucleus bioassay, in oral mucosa cells (n = 15) and lymphocytes (n = 5), and the comet assay (n = 6). The analysis in this study points to the existence of gaps in genotoxicity studies and our findings indicate that future studies need to address the variety of potential sources of pollution existing in Brazil. In addition to extent of the impacts, consideration should be given to the enormous Brazilian biodiversity, as well as the determination of the role of socioeconomic inequality of the population in the observed outcomes.

Ethnic/Racial Disparity in Mortality from COVID-19: Data for the Year 2020 in Brazil.

The study aimed to investigate ethnic/racial disparities in COVID-19 mortality in Brazilian federative units and their respective capitals in 2020. Population data and number of COVID-19 deaths were extracted by skin color (white, black, brown and indigenous) from all Brazilian states and their respective capitals. The mortality rate of COVID-19 by ethnicity in Brazilian states was higher between people from brown skin color, followed by indigenous and black. Only in one state, in the Federal District and in the federal capital, age-standardized mortality rates were higher among white's people. There is a high percentage of deaths from COVID-19 higher than expected among non-white individuals, especially in south-central states and capitals of the country. Mortality from COVID-19 affect ethnic-racial groups unevenly in Brazil and the number of excess deaths among non-whites was over 9000. Urgent government measures are needed to reduce the racial disparity in health indicators in Brazil.

Weekend effect of air pollutants in small and medium-sized cities: The role of policies stringency to COVID-19 containment.

Although the pattern of air pollutants has been extensively studied during the COVID-19 pandemic, the weekend effect has been rarely investigated. In order to understand the impact of policies stringency as well as the interruption-recovery pattern, the aim of the study was to investigate the levels of air pollutants (O3, NO2, SO2, PM2.5, PM10) and PM2.5/PM10 ratio before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in four cities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, evaluating the weekend effect at these two scenarios and also identifying how the restriction measures applied locally had an impact on this effect. For this, daily data from two years of monitoring of air pollutants were collected and the weekend effect was calculated based on the levels from Monday to Friday (weekday) and Saturday and Sunday (weekend). There was a positive weekend effect for almost all criteria air pollutants in the four cities, and an intrinsic relation between the weekend effect and the restriction measures adopted. A negative weekend effect was observed in the scenario characterized by less restrictive and more permissive policies for daily and occupational activities. Conversely, when more stringent measures were implemented, this trend was reversed and higher intensities of positive weekend effect were observed as restrictions increased. In conclusion, the COVID-19 perturbation to air quality changed as regions tighten and loosen restrictions on human mobility. These insights that can guide responsible authorities about future strategies and policies for air quality control.

Better understanding the behavior of air pollutants at shutdown times - results of a short full lockdown.

Numerous studies have evaluated the effects of lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, but most of them have concerned large cities and regions. This study aimed to evaluate the dynamics of air pollutants during and after the implementation of a short lockdown in the medium-sized city of Pelotas, Brazil, using hourly measurements of pollutants. The evaluation period included in this study was between August 9th and 12th, 2020. A machine learning model was used to investigate the expected behavior against what was observed during the study period. All pollutants presented a gradual reduction until a dynamic plateau established 48 hours after the start of the lockdown: NO2 (↓4%), O3 (↓34%), SO2 (↓24%), CO (↓48%), PM10 (↓82%) and PM2.5 (↓82%). At the end of the restriction measures, the PM10 and PM2.5 levels continued to decline beyond expectations. Our findings show that these measures can positively affect the air quality in medium-sized cities.

2030 Agenda: discussion on Brazilian priorities facing air pollution and climate change challenges.

The advance of human activities in a disorderly way has accelerated in recent decades, intensifying the environmental impacts directly linked to these practices. The atmosphere, essential for the maintenance of life, is increasingly saturated with pollutants, offering risks to practically all the inhabitants of the planet, a process that, in addition to causing illness and early mortality, is related to serious financial losses (including in the production of goods), dangerous temperature increase and severe natural disasters. Although this perception is not recent, the global initiative to control the different mechanisms that trigger the commitment of biodiversity and irreversible climate changes arising from pollution is still very incipient, given that global initiatives on the subject emerged just over 50 years ago. Brazil is a territory that centralizes many of these discussions, as it still faces both political and economic obstacles in achieving a sustainable growth model as it was agreed through the United Nations 2030 Agenda. Even though there is little time left for the completion of these goals, much remains to be done, and despite the fulfillment of this deadline, the works will certainly need to be extended for much longer until an effective reorientation of consciousness occurs. Scientific researches and discussions are fundamental tools to the understanding of issues still little explored in this field.

Effect of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) on health indicators: climate change scenarios in a Brazilian metropolis.

Recife is recognized as the 16th most vulnerable city to climate change in the world. In addition, the city has levels of air pollutants above the new limits proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021. In this sense, the present study had two main objectives: (1) To evaluate the health (and economic) benefits related to the reduction in mean annual concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 considering the new limits recommended by the WHO: 15 µg/m3 (PM10) and 5 µg/m3 (PM2.5) and (2) To simulate the behavior of these pollutants in scenarios with increased temperature (2 and 4 °C) using machine learning. The averages of PM2.5 and PM10 were above the limits recommended by the WHO. The scenario simulating the reduction in these pollutants below the new WHO limits would avoid more than 130 deaths and 84 hospital admissions for respiratory or cardiovascular problems. This represents a gain of 15.2 months in life expectancy and a cost of almost 160 million dollars. Regarding the simulated temperature increase, the most conservative (+ 2 °C) and most drastic (+ 4 °C) scenarios predict an increase of approximately 6.5 and 15%, respectively, in the concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10, with a progressive increase in deaths attributed to air pollution. The study shows that the increase in temperature will have impacts on air particulate matter and health outcomes. Climate change mitigation and pollution control policies must be implemented for meeting new WHO air quality standards which may have health benefits.