Assessing Toxicity and in Vitro Bioactivity of Smoked Cigarette Leachate Using Cell-Based Assays and Chemical Analysis.

Smoked cigarettes are the most prevalent form of litter worldwide, often finding their way into oceans and inland waterways. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4000 individual chemicals, some of them carcinogenic or otherwise toxic. We examined the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), estrogen receptor (ER), and p53 response pathways of smoked cigarette leachate in vitro. Both seawater and freshwater leachates of smoked cigarettes were tested. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were negligible at 100 smoked cigarettes/L, while statistically significant AhR, ER, and p53 responses were observed in the extracts of both leachates, suggesting a potential risk to human health through exposure to cigarette litter in the environment. To identify responsible chemicals for the AhR response, an effect directed analysis approach was coupled with nontargeted chemical analysis based on comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC/TOF-MS). Eleven compounds potentially responsible for the AhR response were identified. Among them, 2-methylindole was partially responsible for the AhR response.

Pollution status of marine protected areas worldwide and the consequent toxic effects are unknown.

Chemical pollution is considered a factor that may threaten marine protected areas (MPAs), and recent studies have found contamination and associated biological effects in some MPAs. However, organized data on this topic are lacking. This study reviewed the literature on pollution in MPAs in order to compile data, determine whether MPAs are influenced by pollution and, whenever possible, describe how they are being affected by contaminants. The results show that the pollution status is unknown in most MPAs worldwide. When any information is available, it is often insufficient to diagnose the threats to biodiversity or to support further actions. More robust and extensive information is available on a small number of MPAs, and much less information is available regarding the negative effects of pollution. More than 80% of the areas studied exhibited evidence of contamination at potentially toxic concentrations or were found to have a status that produced toxic effects on the biota. The scientific community is encouraged to study pollution in MPAs worldwide.

Multiresidue determination and predicted risk assessment of contaminants of emerging concern in marine sediments from the vicinities of submarine sewage outfalls.

Submarine sewage outfalls (SSOs) are considered the main input source of contaminants of emerging concern continuously released in coastal areas, with the potential to cause adverse effects for aquatic organisms. This work presents the investigation of nine endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and 26 pharmaceutically active chemicals (PhACs) in marine sediments within the vicinities of 7 SSOs along the São Paulo State Coast (Brazil). Method optimization for the multi-residue determination by GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS using QuEChERS extraction/clean-up are discussed. Results demonstrate the occurrence of EDCs in concentrations ranging from less than method quantification limits (MQL) to 72.5 ng g-1 in sediments. All PhACs were

Integrative assessment of sediment quality in lower basin affected by former mining in Brazil.

The Ribeira de Iguape River (Southeast Brazil) is metal contaminated by mining activities. Despite it has been cataloged as "in via of restoration" by the literature, this basin is still a sink of pollution in some segments of the fluvial system. This study aimed to assess the sediment quality in the lower part of the RIR basin. The employed approach was based on biological responses of the freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea after 7-day exposure bioassays using as the reference site the Perequê Ecological Park. Toxic responses (burial activity and lethality) and biochemical biomarkers (GST, GR, GPx, LPO, MTs, AChE and DNA damage) were evaluated and then integrated with metal bioavailability and chemical concentrations to address the sediment quality in the area through the weight-of-evidence approach. A multivariate analysis identified linkages between biological responses and contamination. Results pointed that, despite being below the benchmarks of the US Environmental Protection Agency, there is slight metal contamination in the lower part of the basin which induces oxidative stress in C. fluminea; other toxic responses were sometimes attributed to As and Cr bioaccumulation. The sediment quality values (TEL-PEL values in mg/kg) were calculated for the current study for As (0.63-1.31), Cr (3.5-11.05), Cs (1.0-1.17), Cu (6.32-7.32), Ni (6.78-7.46), Ti (42.0-215), V (1.77-8.00). By comparison with other international guidelines, the sediment quality of the lower basin of the Vale de Ribeira does not identify a significant environmental risk.

Metal contamination and fractionation in sediments from the lower basin of the Vale do Ribeira (SE, Brazil).

The sediment quality of Ribeira de Iguape River is affected by former Pb extraction mining. Some studies affirm the restoration status of the basin, however, mobility of metals and its associated risk is still questioned. This study integrates the metal concentrations in the lower part of the basin with different contamination source to determine the existence of risks associated with the mobile fractions of the geochemical matrix. Despite concentrations of metals were low and the environmental risk factor values were negative, our results indicated that As, Mn, Pb, and V were present in the most labile forms. The multivariate analysis conducted using metal concentrations, environmental risk factor values and speciation suggested that any risk would be associated with the labile fractions of the analyzed elements, especially for Pb. The station from Registro was stressed by Co, Pb and Zn; with Pb under the reactive fraction that could be associated with high mobility and potential bioavailability.

Multiple Biomarker Responses in Corbicula fluminea Exposed to Copper in Laboratory Toxicity Tests.

This study evaluated the alteration of the enzymatic system of the freshwater Asian clam exposed to different copper concentrations. Individuals of Corbicula fluminea were exposed to different concentrations of dissolved Cu (0.5, 1, and 2 mg L(-1)) for 7 days, then, biomarkers of oxidative stress (GST, GPx, GR), exposure (MTs), effect (AChE), and damage (LPO, DNA strand breaks) were quantified. Results showed positive correlations between dissolved metal concentrations and GPx, MTs, and DNA damage, and negative correlation with GST and AChE. In contrast, no clear trend was found for GR and LPO. In general, the established mechanisms of protection might have a beneficial effect on the decreasing ROS attack on membrane and the activation of the metallothioneins. Integrated biomarker analysis revealed that the measured alterations are well correlated with the levels of increasing dissolved copper concentrations in water, demonstrating the effectiveness of this organism for biomonitoring approach purposes.

Cumulative influences of a small city and former mining activities on the sediment quality of a subtropical estuarine protected area.

This study aimed to evaluate the sediment quality in the estuarine protected area known as Cananéia-Iguape-Peruíbe (CIP-PA), located on the southeastern coast of Brazil. The study was designed considering possible negative effects induced by the city of Cananéia on the sediment quality of surrounding areas. This evaluation was performed using chemical and ecotoxicological analyses. Sediments were predominantly sandy, with low CaCO3 contents. Amounts of organic matter varied, but higher contents occurred closer to the city, as well as did Fe and Total Recoverable Oils and Greases (TROGs) concentrations. Contamination by Cd and Cu was revealed in some samples, while concentrations of Zn were considered low. Chronic toxicity was detected in all tested sediments and acute toxicity occurred only in sediments collected near the city. The principal component analysis (PCA) revealed an association among Cd, Cu, Fe, TROG, fines, organic matter, CaCO3, and chronic toxicity, whereas acute toxicity was found to be associated with Zn and mud. However, because Zn levels were low, acute toxicity was likely due to a contaminant that was not measured. Results show that there is a broad area within the CIP-PA that is under the influence of mining activities (chronic toxicity, moderate contamination by metals), whereas poorer conditions occur closer to Cananéia (acute toxicity); thus, the urban area seems to constitute a relevant source of contaminants for the estuarine complex. These results show that contamination is already capable of producing risks for the local aquatic biota, which suggests that the CIP-PA effectiveness in protecting estuarine biota may be threatened.

Toxicidade de águas e sedimentos em um rio afetado por atividades mineradoras pretéritas / Water and sediment toxicity in a river affected by formermining residues

bacia do Rio Ribeira de Iguape foi palco de intensa atividade de mineração de chumbo e, como resultado, estima-se que o rio Ribeira de Iguape tenha recebido a descarga de aproximadamente 5,5 t/mês de materiais ricos em As, Ba, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr e Zn. No presente trabalho, foi analisada a toxicidade de sedimentos e águas coletados ao longo do rio com o intuito de avaliara qualidade ambiental, tendo sido realizadas 3 campanhas de coleta, entre 2009 e 2010. Os testes de toxicidade aguda foram conduzidos com o cladócero Daphnia similis, utilizando as amostras brutas de água e a exposição aos sedimentos pela interface sedimento-água. Os resultados indicaram, em geral, ausência de toxicidade, tanto para sedimentos quanto para águas, com efeitos tóxicos agudos registrados apenas episodicamente (toxicidade marginal). Tais resultados são coerentes com as baixas concentrações de metais em águas e sedimentos indicadas na literatura, porém diferem do monitoramento feito pela agência ambiental estadual, que tem registrado toxicidade crônica. Essa toxicidade aguda eventual indica, ainda, que embora a qualidade do Rio Ribeira de Iguape esteja sendo recuperada, as condições ainda não estão totalmente controladas.

The Ribeira de Iguape River basin received intense mining activities for lead exploiting and, as a result, the river received the discharges of estimated amounts of 5.5 tons/month of material rich in As, Ba, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr and Zn. In this article, the toxicity of waters and sediments collected in Ribeira de Iguape River was assessed aiming to estimate environmental quality. Three sampling campaigns were conducted, from 2009 to 2010. Toxicity tests with the cladoceran Daphnia similis were done for water samples and for sediments, in this case using sediment-water interface exposure. Results showed in general absence of toxicity for sediments and waters, and only eventually were acute effects registered (marginal toxicity). Results are consistent with the conditions indicated by the literature, of low concentrations of metals in waters and sediments; however they differ from the monitoring made by the state environmental agency, which registered chronic toxicity. The occurrence of eventual acute toxicity indicates that although Ribeira de Iguape River quality is being restored, conditions still are not totally under control.

Contamination of port zone sediments by metals from Large Marine Ecosystems of Brazil.

Sediment contamination by metals poses risks to coastal ecosystems and is considered to be problematic to dredging operations. In Brazil, there are differences in sedimentology along the Large Marine Ecosystems in relation to the metal distributions. We aimed to assess the extent of Al, Fe, Hg, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn contamination in sediments from port zones in northeast (Mucuripe and Pecém) and southeast (Santos) Brazil through geochemical analyses and sediment quality ratings. The metal concentrations found in these port zones were higher than those observed in the continental shelf or the background values in both regions. In the northeast, metals were associated with carbonate, while in Santos, they were associated with mud. Geochemical analyses showed enrichments in Hg, Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn, and a simple application of international sediment quality guidelines failed to predict their impacts, whereas the use of site-specific values that were derived by geochemical and ecotoxicological approaches seemed to be more appropriate in the management of the dredged sediments.