Anthracene-Induced Alterations in Liverwort Architecture In Vitro: Potential for Bioindication of Environmental Pollution.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread globally, primarily due to long-term anthropogenic pollution sources. Since PAHs tend to accumulate in soil sediments, liverwort plants, such as Lunularia cruciata, are susceptible to their adverse effects, making them good models for bioindicators. The aim of this study was to probe the impact of anthracene, a three-ring linear PAH, on the growth parameters of L. cruciata and the relationship established with the internalization of the pollutant throughout the phenology of the plant. Intrinsic plant responses, isolated from external factors, were assessed in vitro. L. cruciata absorbed anthracene from the culture medium, and its bioaccumulation was monitored throughout the entire process, from the gemma germination stage to the development of the adult plant, over a total period of 60 days. Consequently, plants exposed to concentrations higher than 50 µM anthracene, decreased the growth area of the thallus, the biomass and number of tips. Moreover, anthracene also impinged on plant symmetry. This concentration represented the maximum limit of bioaccumulation in the tissues. This study provides the first evidence that architectural variables in liverwort plants are suitable parameters for their use as bioindicators of PAHs.

Development and evaluation of a colorimetric LAMP based-assay targeting the Bacteroides HF183 marker for tracking sewage pollution in environmental waters.

Surface waters are vulnerable to contamination by human and animal feces, posing risks to human health due to potential exposure to enteric pathogens. This research developed a colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (cLAMP) assay to detect sewage associated Bacteroides dorei HF183/BacR287 (HF183) marker in wastewater and environmental water samples. The host sensitivity and host specificity of the assay were evaluated, and their performance was compared to the Bacteroides HF183 qPCR assay using control materials (gBlocks), environmental water samples seeded with untreated sewage, and ambient environmental water samples. In serial dilutions of control materials, qPCR produced quantifiable data across all dilutions, while cLAMP detected the marker down to 0.001 pg/µL of control materials, which was two orders of magnitude less sensitive than qPCR. All untreated sewage samples (n = 12) tested positive for HF183 by both the qPCR and cLAMP assays, demonstrating a host sensitivity value of 1.00 (maximum value of 1.00). The host specificity by analysing 70 non-human fecal nucleic acid samples revealed cLAMP's specificity value of 0.81 compared to qPCR's 0.64. When testing sewage-seeded environmental water samples, both methods detected HF183 for the lowest amount of sewage, indicating similar detection sensitivity. The application of cLAMP for tracking sewage pollution in environmental waters showed promising results, with moderate agreement between cLAMP and qPCR (κ = 0.510). However, cLAMP occasionally missed detections compared to qPCR, particularly in low-concentration samples. Overall, the cLAMP HF183 assay demonstrated promising potential as a rapid and sensitive method for detecting sewage pollution, offering a viable alternative to qPCR in certain environmental monitoring scenarios.

Arsenic and metal levels in snake tissues from Lagoa Santa Karst, Brazil.

Concentrations of one metalloid (As) and eight metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were determined in tissues (muscle, liver, and kidney) of eight snake species (Bothrops neuwiedi, Crotalus durissus, Dipsas mikanii, Epicrates crassus, Helicops modestus, Micrurus carvalhoi, Oxyrhopus guibei, and Oxyrhopus trigeminus) from Lagoa Santa Karst. Except for Cu and Zn, all other analyzed elements were detected in concentrations within the ranges previously reported for snakes inhabiting polluted areas, emphasizing Hg (specific Hg mean concentrations varied from 0.87 to 9.76 µg g-1 d.w). The highest mean concentrations of all elements except Zn were found in muscle samples of the false corals O. guibei (means ranged from 2.01 [Pb] to 9.76 [Hg]). The highest Zn mean concentration (13.77 µg g-1 d.w) was detected in the kidney of the water snake H. modestus. No significant correlation was found between element concentrations and body size for all species. Significant interorgan differences were observed for As, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Pb, and Zn concentrations in the three tissues in H. modestus. Significant interspecific differences were found in at least one organ for all elements. Significant pairwise differences were found between diet specialist species and between these species and broader diet species, while no significant difference was found between the broader diet species. The bioaccumulation of As and metals in snakes from Lagoa Santa Karst could be associated with natural rock dissolution and erosion processes but also with the wide-scale mining in the region and the increased agriculture and urbanization.

Evaluation of real-time fluorescence sensors and benchtop fluorescence for tracking and predicting sewage contamination in the Tijuana River Estuary at the US-Mexico border.

Cross-border flow of untreated sewage from Mexico into the USA via the Tijuana River is public health issue with negative consequences for coastal communities. Here we evaluate the potential application of fluorescence-based, submersible tryptophan-like (TRP) and humic-like (CDOM) fluorescence sensors for real-time tracking of wastewater pollution in an estuarine environment. Sonde fluorescence measurements were compared with benchtop fluorescence, fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) concentrations, and real-time specific conductivity measurements in the Tijuana River Estuary during dry and wet weather conditions, and with and without cross-border flow. TRP and CDOM fluorescence concentrations were low during times without cross-border flow and two-three orders of magnitude higher during storm events and after cross-border sewage flow events. Major deterioration in water quality, including hypoxic conditions, was observed after consistent, long-term cross-border sewage flow. Real-time TRP and CDOM fluorescence concentrations had a significant linear relationship with fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) concentrations during dry weather periods with cross-border flow (p < 0.001) but were poorly correlated during stormflow and during less polluted periods with no cross-border flow. TRP and CDOM fluorescence acquired on discrete samples using a benchtop fluorometer correlated significantly (p < 0.001) with FIB concentrations under all cross-border flow conditions. Based on relationships between benchtop TRP fluorescence and percent wastewater, the greatest amount of untreated wastewater in the estuary's surface layer during cross-border flow events was estimated at >80 % and occurred during neap tides, when concentrated, sewage-laden freshwater flowed over dense saline seawater due to stratification and lack of mixing in the estuary. These results are important because exposure to untreated sewage poses severe health risks for residents and visitors to adjacent coastal areas. While benchtop fluorescence was more effective for estimating the degree of wastewater pollution, submersible TRP and CDOM sensors provided a real-time alert of sewage contamination, which can be utilized in other sewage impacted estuarine environments.

DNA damage and its association with early-life exposome: Gene-environment analysis in Colombian children under five years old.

Environmental exposures and gene-exposure interactions are the major causes of some diseases. Early-life exposome studies are needed to elucidate the role of environmental exposures and their complex interactions with biological mechanisms involved in childhood health. This study aimed to determine the contribution of early-life exposome to DNA damage and the modifying effect of genetic polymorphisms involved in air pollutants metabolism, antioxidant defense, and DNA repair. We conducted a cohort study in 416 Colombian children under five years. Blood samples at baseline were collected to measure DNA damage by the Comet assay and to determine GSTT1, GSTM1, CYP1A1, H2AX, OGG1, and SOD2 genetic polymorphisms. The exposome was estimated using geographic information systems, remote sensing, LUR models, and questionnaires. The association exposome-DNA damage was estimated using the Elastic Net linear regression with log link. Our results suggest that exposure to PM2.5 one year before the blood draw (BBD) (0.83, 95 %CI: 0.76; 0.91), soft drinks consumption (0.94, 0.89; 0.98), and GSTM1 null genotype (0.05, 0.01; 0.36) diminished the DNA damage, whereas exposure to PM2.5 one-week BBD (1.18, 1.06; 1.32), NO2 lag-5 days BBD (1.27, 1.18; 1.36), in-house cockroaches (1.10, 1.00; 1.21) at the recruitment, crowding at home (1.34, 1.08; 1.67) at the recruitment, cereal consumption (1.11, 1.04; 1.19) and H2AX (AG/GG vs. AA) (1.44, 1.11; 1.88) increased the DNA damage. The interactions between H2AX (AG/GG vs. AA) genotypes with crowding and PM2.5 one week BBD, GSTM1 (null vs. present) with humidity at the first year of life, and OGG1 (SC/CC vs. SS) with walkability at the first year of life were significant. The early-life exposome contributes to elucidating the effect of environmental exposures on DNA damage in Colombian children under five years old. The exposome-DNA damage effect appears to be modulated by genetic variants in DNA repair and antioxidant defense enzymes.

The use of the micronucleus test and comet assay in wild rodents: a historical review and future perspectives.

Rodents are considered good models for investigating genotoxic damage and mutagenic alterations caused by xenobiotic agents, due to their occupation of a wide variety of habitats. However, relatively few in situ studies have focused on DNA damage in wild rodents associated with environmental exposure. In this review, we investigate trends in the application of the micronucleus test and comet assay in in situ studies of wild rodents. A total of 33 papers were identified, distributed across 14 different countries. Brazil and Spain had the most published studies (six each), followed by Bulgaria (n = 5), Mexico (n = 4) and Italy (n = 3). Only 24 of the 2,652 recognized rodent species have been the subject of in situ studies, which have most frequently focus on species of the genus Mus. The protocols used for the micronucleus test and comet assay varied widely, although blood and bone marrow were the primary types of tissue used. Given the paucity of studies on wild rodents, we recommend further research, particularly focusing on the use of this group as bioindicators of environmental quality and the standardization of protocols.

Short-term microplastic effects on marine meiofauna abundance, diversity and community composition.

Background: Due to the copious disposal of plastics, marine ecosystems receive a large part of this waste. Microplastics (MPs) are solid particles smaller than 5 millimeters in size. Among the plastic polymers, polystyrene (PS) is one of the most commonly used and discarded. Due to its density being greater than that of water, it accumulates in marine sediments, potentially affecting benthic communities. This study investigated the ingestion of MP and their effect on the meiofauna community of a sandy beach. Meiofauna are an important trophic link between the basal and higher trophic levels of sedimentary food webs and may therefore be substantially involved in trophic transfer of MP and their associated compounds. Methods: We incubated microcosms without addition of MP (controls) and treatments contaminated with PS MP (1-µm) in marine sediments at three nominal concentrations (103, 105, 107particles/mL), for nine days, and sampled for meiofauna with collections every three days. At each sampling time, meiofauna were collected, quantified and identified to higher-taxon level, and ingestion of MP was quantified under an epifluorescence microscope. Results: Except for Tardigrada, all meiofauna taxa (Nematoda, turbellarians, Copepoda, Nauplii, Acari and Gastrotricha) ingested MP. Absorption was strongly dose dependent, being highest at 107 particles/mL, very low at 105 particles/mL and non-demonstrable at 103 particles/mL. Nematodes accumulated MP mainly in the intestine; MP abundance in the intestine increased with increasing incubation time. The total meiofauna density and species richness were significantly lower at the lowest MP concentration, while at the highest concentration these parameters were very similar to the control. In contrast, Shannon-Wiener diversity and evenness were greater in treatments with low MP concentration. However, these results should be interpreted with caution because of the low meiofauna abundances at the lower two MP concentrations. Conclusion: At the highest MP concentration, abundance, taxonomic diversity and community structure of a beach meiofauna community were not significantly affected, suggesting that MP effects on meiofauna are at most subtle. However, lower MP concentrations did cause substantial declines in abundance and diversity, in line with previous studies at the population and community level. While we can only speculate on the underlying mechanism(s) of this counterintuitive response, results suggest that further research is needed to better understand MP effects on marine benthic communities.

Black carbon and particulate matter concentrations amid central Chile's extreme wildfires.

The increase in the frequency and severity of global wildfires has been largely influenced by climate change and land use changes. From February 2 to 6, 2024, central Chile experienced its most devastating wildland-urban interface wildfire in history, severely impacting the Valparaíso region. This catastrophic event, which led to extensive forest destruction, the loss of thousands of homes, and over a hundred human fatalities, directly impacted the area surrounding the campus of Federico Santa María Technical University. In that period, an air quality monitoring campaign was set up on the campus to measure black carbon (BC) and particulate matter (PM) during the wildfire season. The monitoring station was located directly within the smoke plume, allowing for the collection of unprecedented air quality data. Extremely high concentrations of BC at 880 nm were reported during the wildfires, with a daily mean (±σ) of 14.83 ± 19.52 µg m-3. Peak concentrations measured at 880 nm and 375 nm reached 812.89 µg m-3 and 1561.24 µg m-3, respectively. The maximum daily mean BC concentrations at these wavelengths were 55 and 99 times higher, respectively, compared to the pre-event period. The mean Ångström absorbing coefficient during the event was 1.66, indicating biomass burning as the primary BC source, while the maximum BC/PM2.5 ratio (at 375 nm) reached 57 %. From February 2 to 5, 2024, PM concentrations exceeded the Chilean air quality standard by 82 % and 198 % for coarse and fine particles, respectively. These levels are 4.7 and 6.0 times higher than the World Health Organization's recommendations. These elevated concentrations persisted for up to three days after the fire was extinguished. This study provides unique evidence of the rapid deterioration of regional air quality during a wildfire event using in situ measurements, serving as a stark reminder of the far-reaching consequences of a warming climate.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices about air pollution and its health effects in 6th to 11th-grade students in Colombia: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Globally, air pollution is the leading environmental cause of disease and premature death. Raising awareness through environmental education and adequate communication on air quality could reduce the adverse effects. We aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding air pollution and health and determine the factors associated with these KAP in children and adolescents. Methods: In 2019-2020, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 6th-11th grade high school students in five municipalities in Colombia. Variables collected included: age, sex, private or public school, any medical history, emergency room visits due to respiratory symptoms in the last year, and whether students played sports. The main exposure was the School Environmental Project. The outcomes were the KAP scale [0% (the lowest score) to 100% (the highest score)]. The factors associated with KAP levels were evaluated with independent mixed regressions due to the multilevel structure of the study (level 1: student; level 2: school), and the exponential coefficients (95% confidence interval-CI) were reported. Results: Among 1,676 students included, 53.8% were females. The median knowledge score about air pollution and its health effects was 33.8% (IQR: 24.0-44.9), 38.6% knew the air quality index, 30.9% knew the air quality alerts that occurred twice a year in these municipalities and 5.3% had high self-perceived knowledge. Positive attitudes, pro-environmental practices, being female, grade level, attending a private school, having respiratory diseases, and the school environmental project importance were associated with higher knowledge scores. The median attitudes score was 78.6% (IQR: 71.4-92.9). Pro-environmental attitudes were associated with knowledge-increasing, being female, attending a private school, and the school environmental project. The median pro-environmental practices score was 28.6% (IQR: 28.6-42.9). During air quality alerts, 11.6% had worn masks, 19% had reduced the opening time of windows and 15.9% avoided leaving home. Pro-environmental practices were associated with knowledge-increasing and attitudes-increasing, and lower practices with higher grade levels, visiting a doctor in the last year, and practicing sports. Discussion: Children and adolescents have low knowledge scores and inadequate pro-environmental practices scores regarding air pollution. However, they demonstrate positive attitudes towards alternative solutions and express important concerns about the planet's future.

Preliminary dataset of emerging contaminants in surface water, bottom water, porewater, and sediment: Urban and aquaculture impacts in Coliumo bay and Caucahue Channel in the central and southern coast of Chile.

Synthetic organic chemicals, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and industrial compounds, pose a growing threat to marine ecosystems. Despite their potential impact, data on the co-occurrence of these contaminants in multiple compartments, including surface water, bottom water, porewater, and sediment in the marine environment remains limited. Such information is critical for assessing coastal chemical status, establishing environmental quality benchmarks, and conducting comprehensive environmental risk assessments. In this study, we describe a multifaceted monitoring campaign targeting pesticides, pharmaceuticals, surfactants, additives, and plasticizers among other synthetic chemicals in four sampling sites. One site was located in the small Coliumo bay affected by urban settlements and tourism in central-south and additionally, we sampled three sites, Caucahue Channel, affected by urban settlements and salmon farming in northern Patagonia in Chile. Surface water, bottom water, porewater, and adjacent sediment samples were collected for target screening analysis in LC- and GC-HRMS platforms. Our results show the detection of up to 83 chemicals in surface water, 71 in bottom water, 101 in porewater, and 244 in sediments. To enhance data utility and reuse potential, we provide valuable information on the mode of action and molecular targets of the identified chemicals. This comprehensive dataset contributes to defining pollution fingerprints in coastal areas of the Global South, including remote regions in Patagonia. It serves as a critical resource for future research including marine chemical risk assessment, policymaking, and the advancement of environmental protection in these regions.

Inflammatory Status in Trained and Untrained Mice at Different Pollution Levels.

Atmospheric pollution can be defined as a set of changes that occur in the composition of the air, making it unsuitable and/or harmful and thereby generating adverse effects on human health. The regular practice of physical exercise (PE) is associated with the preservation and/or improvement of health; however, it can be influenced by neuroimmunoendocrine mechanisms and external factors such as air pollution, highlighting the need for studies involving the practice of PE in polluted environments. Herein, 24 male C57BL/6 mice were evaluated, distributed into four groups (exposed to a high concentration of pollutants/sedentary, exposed to a high concentration of pollutants/exercised, exposed to ambient air/sedentary, and exposed to ambient air/exercised). The exposure to pollutants occurred in the environmental particle concentrator (CPA) and the physical training was performed on a treadmill specially designed for use within the CPA. Pro- and anti-inflammatory markers in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BALF), BALF cellularity, and lung tissue were evaluated. Although the active group exposed to a high concentration of pollution showed a greater inflammatory response, both the correlation analysis and the ratio between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines demonstrated that the exercised group presented greater anti-inflammatory activity, suggesting a protective/adaptative effect of exercise when carried out in a polluted environment.

Bioremediation strategies against pesticides: An overview of current knowledge and innovations.

Pesticides pose significant risks to both human health, such as cancer, neurological disorders, and endocrine disruption, and ecosystems, through the destruction of beneficial insects, contamination of soil and water, and impact on non-target species. In the face of escalating pesticide pollution, there is an urgent need for multifaceted approaches to address the issue. Bioremediation emerges as a potent tool in the environmental pollution mitigation arsenal. Ideally aiming for the complete decomposition of pesticides into harmless molecules, bioremediation encompasses diverse approaches - from bioabsorption, bioadsorption, and biotransformation using enzymes and nanoenzymes to comprehensive degradation facilitated by microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, macro- and microalgae, or phytoremediation. Exploring nature's biodiversity offers a promising avenue to find solutions to this pressing human-induced problem. The acceleration of biodegradation necessitates identifying and developing efficient organisms, achieved through bioprospection and targeted modifications. Specific strategies to enhance process efficiency and throughput include optimizing biomass production, strategic inoculation in diverse environments, and employing bioreactor systems for processing heavily contaminated waters or soils. This comprehensive review presents various bioremediation approaches, emphasizing the importance of microorganisms' exploration and new technologies development, including current innovations and patents to effectively combat pesticide pollution. Furthermore, challenges regarding the effective implementation of these technologies are also addressed.

Occurrence and Environmental Risk Assessment of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Brazilian Surface Waters.

We investigated the occurrence and the environmental risk of eight contaminants of emerging concern (CECs; acetaminophen, naproxen, diclofenac, methylparaben, 17ß-estradiol, sulfathiazole, sulfadimethoxine, and sulfamethazine) in three Brazilian water bodies, namely, the Monjolinho River Basin (São Paulo State), the Mogi Guaçu River (São Paulo State), and the Itapecuru River (Maranhão State) in three sampling campaigns. The CECs were only quantified in surface water samples collected at the Monjolinho River Basin. Acetaminophen, naproxen, and methylparaben were detected in the range of <200 to 575.9 ng L-1, <200 to 224.7 ng L-1, and <200 to 303.6 ng L-1, respectively. The detection frequencies of the three measured compounds were between 33% and 67%. The highest concentrations of CECs were associated with intense urbanization and untreated sewage discharge. Furthermore, CEC concentrations were significantly correlated with total organic carbon, electrical conductivity, and dissolved oxygen levels, suggesting that domestic pollution from urban areas is an important source in the distribution of CECs in the Monjolinho River Basin. The environmental risk assessment indicated a high risk for acetaminophen (risk quotient [RQ] values between 2.1 and 5.8), a medium risk for naproxen (RQs between 0.6 and 0.7), and a low risk for methylparaben (RQs < 0.1) to the freshwater biota of the Monjolinho River Basin. Our findings show potential threats of CECs in Brazilian water bodies, especially in vulnerable areas, and reinforce the need for improvements in environmental regulations to include monitoring and control of these compounds in aquatic systems. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:2199-2210. © 2024 SETAC.

Toxoplasma gondii Exposure and Dietary Habits of Two Sympatric Carnivores in the Valdivian Temperate Rainforest, Southern Chile.

Toxoplasma gondii, a parasitic protozoan, may infect most warm-blooded animals, including humans and carnivores. Our study focused on alien-invasive American minks (Neogale vison) and domestic cats (Felis catus) in the Valdivian Temperate Rainforest, Chile. The main goal was to investigate the relationship between their dietary habits and T. gondii exposure in the Valdivia River watershed. To detect T. gondii exposure, blood serum samples from 49 domestic cats and 40 American minks were analyzed using an ELISA, and stable isotope analysis of δ15N and δ13C from vibrissae was performed to determine the dietary habits of both species. Relationships between T. gondii exposure and dietary habits were explored using generalized linear mixed-effects models. American minks that were T. gondii seropositive exhibited a broader prey range compared to seropositive domestic cats, with minimal dietary overlap between the two groups. Exposure of domestic cats to T. gondii had no significant association with any isotope value or prey item in their diet. In American minks, we found a positive and significant association between the proportion of Domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) in the diet and high δ15N values with T. gondii exposure. This suggests that domestic species prey related to anthropogenic areas, and the consumption of high-trophic-level prey, may contribute to T. gondii exposure in American minks. Conversely, contrary to previous hypotheses, consumption of rodents showed no significant association with T. gondii exposure in either species. Our findings emphasize the importance of further research to investigate trophic interactions in the transmission dynamics of T. gondii in the Valdivian Temperate Rainforest.

Microplastics associated with stranded macroalgae on an impacted estuarine beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Microplastics (MPs) are contaminants widely distributed in marine ecosystems. Only few studies approached MP interactions with marine plants, which are considered potential traps for MPs. Here, we determined MPs' densities and types associated with stranded macroalgae on a eutrophic beach in Guanabara Bay. Our results showed that red algae exhibited higher MP densities (1.48 MPs g-1), possibly due to their more branched thalli, than green algae (0.27 MPs g-1). The predominant MP types were blue and white fragments <3 mm in size and polymers were classified as polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride in fragments, and polypropylene in fibers. The higher densities of MPs in algae seemed to be influenced by the inner bay waters. The densities of MPs associated with algae from Guanabara Bay surpassed those reported in other studies. High MPs densities increase the chances that organisms associated with algae entangle or ingest MPs, impacting their health and survival.

Trace metals pollution and trophic position of three sea urchin species in the Gulf of California.

Sea urchin species are ecologically important in the Gulf of California and are becoming popular as a local fishery due to their commercial value. The most abundant species are Echinometra vanbrunti, Eucidaris thouarsii, and Tripneustes depressus. The objective of this study was to evaluate cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, and iron concentrations, as well as stable isotope values in these sea urchin species in the Santa Rosalia mining area (STR), in three sites: Punta Gorda, Punta el Aterrizaje, and Punta Salina. The highest Fe concentration (100.2 mg kg-1) was found in E. vanbrunti, while the highest concentrations of Pb (15.1 mg kg-1), Cu (14.5 mg kg-1), and Zn (347.7 mg kg-1) were recorded in E. thouarsii, and the highest Cd concentration (10.8 mg kg-1) was found in T. depressus. The main health risk of trace metal pollution in STR may be caused by Cd and Pb. δ15N and δ13C values were higher in E. thouarsii and T. depressus, respectively; E. thouarsii has the highest trophic position. Specimen size was not related to metal concentrations, but a positive relationship was observed between specimen size and isotopic values in T. depressus. The three species showed different bioaccumulation patterns for the metals analyzed. Additionally, collection sites and seasons play an important role in the variability of metal concentration.

Occurrence of pharmaceuticals in Latin America: case study on hazard assessment and prioritization in Costa Rica.

Pharmaceuticals are considered as contaminants of emerging concern, and their occurrence in diverse environmental matrices has been described during the last 25 years. Nonetheless, pharmaceutical occurrence has not been evenly described worldwide, and reports from some geographical areas such as most parts of Latin America are scarce. This work aims to address the situation of water pollution due to pharmaceuticals in Latin America by means of two main goals: i. First, reviewing the monitoring studies performed in Latin America on this topic (period 2009-2024), which were conducted in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Argentina, to highlight the most frequently detected compounds from each therapeutic group in the region. ii. Second, analyzing the case of Costa Rica through the hazard assessment and prioritization of pharmaceuticals based on the monitoring performed in this country (years 2011; 2018-2019). The monitoring in Costa Rica comprised a total of 163 sampling points: wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) (14 urban WWTPs plus two landfill WWTPs; total samples n = 44 influents and n = 34 effluents), nine hospital effluents (n = 32), wastewater from livestock farms (six swine farms and seven dairy farms; n = 23 influents and n = 37 effluents), 64 continental surface water sampling points (n = 137), and 61 coastal seawater sampling points (n = 61). Risk assessment of detected concentrations by the hazard quotient (HQ) approach (period 2018-2019) revealed a total of 25 medium or high-hazard compounds (out of 37 detected compounds). The prioritization approach (which included the Frequency of Appearance (FoA), the Frequency of PNEC exceedance (FoE), and the Extent of predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) exceedance (EoE)), showed a critical list of nine pharmaceuticals: caffeine, diphenhydramine, acetaminophen, lovastatin, gemfibrozil, ciprofloxacin, ibuprofen, doxycycline and norfloxacin. These compounds should be taken into account as a first concern during the implementation of environmental policies related to pharmaceutical products in the region.

Use of lichens as bioindicators of contamination by agrochemicals and metals.

The presence or absence of lichens serves as an indicator of the condition of an ecosystem and the degree to which it is contaminated by various agents, such as agrochemicals and metals. Evaluating the use of lichens as bioindicators of agrochemical contamination could provide a more comprehensive perspective of current contamination levels. Monitoring was conducted over a 4-month period in two study areas: one was a well-conserved area contaminated by metals, and the other was an area surrounded by agricultural crops contaminated by agrochemicals. Data on the presence and abundance of lichens in each study area were recorded at 10 monitoring points, a procedure that was repeated 16 times (every 15 days), and concentrations of heavy metals and "organophosphate" agrochemicals in the lichens collected were measured by means of Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Gas Chromatography (GC), respectively. Generalized linear mixed models were used to assess abundance and richness, while general linear mixed models were used to attain Shannon diversity and Simpson dominance indices. Moreover, a multivariate analysis was performed in order to compare the lichen communities in both areas. The results indicated differences between the area contaminated by metals and that contaminated by agrochemicals in terms of abundance and Simpson's dominance index, while no differences were found in the case of the richness and diversity models. The PERMANOVA analysis additionally showed differences between the lichen communities in the two areas. The results also demonstrated that Canoparmelia caroliniana bioaccumulated metals in both areas. The levels of barium, cadmium, and sodium were higher in the area contaminated by metals, while concentrations of chromium and copper were higher in the area contaminated by agrochemicals. Finally, the concentrations of agrochemicals were higher in the area contaminated by agrochemicals and included toxic substances such as Methylparathion and Parathion, which are prohibited in Ecuador. In conclusion, this research underscores the importance of lichens as precise indicators of environmental health and contamination by agrochemicals and metals.