Work

The Consequences of a Lack of Basic Sanitation in the Municipality of Maricá (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Resulting in Low Concentrations of Metals but Dissemination of Endocrine Disruptors Through Local Environments: Subsidies for Local Environmental Management

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are emerging pollutants that can potentially accumulate in aquatic ecosystems at significant levels, with the potential to impact the health of both animals and humans. Many scientists have correlated human exposure to high concentrations of EDCs with critical physiological impacts, including infertility, thyroid imbalance, early sexual development, endometriosis, diabetes, and obesity. Several substances, such as heavy metals, belong to this family, ranging from natural to synthetic compounds, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and plastic-derived compounds. Domestic sewage represents a significant source of EDCs in the surrounding aquatic ecosystems. To this day, most rural and urban domestic wastewater in the municipality of Marica is directly discharged into local aquatic environments without any treatment. The present study aimed to assess the potential contamination of the riverine and lagoonal environment in the municipality of Marica. Water and sediment samples were collected seasonally at 18 sites along the Maricá watershed and the main lagoon, where most of the watershed contributors flow. Water physico-chemical parameters (pH, Eh, dissolved oxygen levels, salinity, turbidity, temperature, and fecal coliforms) were analyzed to characterize the urban influence on the aquatic environment. Simultaneously, sediment samples were analyzed for grain size, total organic carbon percentage, and the potential bioavailable fraction of trace metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Hg, Ni, Zn, and As). Finally, the sediment toxicity was assessed using YES assays. The results obtained already demonstrate the presence of estrogenic effects and raise concerns about water quality. The findings from the present study suggest that, despite the absence of agricultural and industrial activities in the city of Maricá, EDCs are already present and have the potential to impact the local ecosystem, posing potential risks to human health.

Source: Eng—Advances in Engineering

DOI: 10.3390/eng5040181