Multi-user equipment approved in Grant 2019/08941-0: Microplate reader

• Grant number: 22/06151-0
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program
• Duration: July 01, 2022 - June 30, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Camilo Dias Seabra Pereira
• Grantee: Camilo Dias Seabra Pereira
• Host Institution: Instituto do Mar (IMar). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/08491-0 - Atmospheric particulate material and environmental contamination. Impact assessment in the aquatic biota in an integrated ecophysiotoxicological approach, AP.TEM

Abstract

The industrial activity for iron (ore) producing and steel products processing results in the emission of particulate material in the atmosphere (APM) containing free metals and metallic nanoparticles. Many of these materials are emerging metals and nanoparticles that there are no environmental limits determined in the existing legislation. Dispersed in the atmosphere they may contaminate not only the aerial but also the aquatic environment and, passively, be incorporated by the local biota, including the humans. The accumulation of such metals and nanoparticles in the organisms may result in biochemical and physiological disfunctions impacting the homeostasis, metabolism and performance of animals and the health of the local population and the overall quality of life. This project proposes an integrated study concerns to constitution of APM, form and dynamic of cellular internalization, capacity and limit of metals and nanoparticles accumulation in different organs of aquatic organisms (vertebrates and invertebrates), bioavailability subcellular partition and possible damage to different biological processes. Physical and chemical studies will be done to identify and quantify the metals and metallic nanoparticles in the APM in one region recognised.by the magnitude of steel production and, ultra- and nanostructural morphological techniques will be applied to identify the materials at subcellular level, evaluate the crystallographic structure, oxidation state and bioavailability in the organs of animals exposed to APM in experiments, in vivo, ex vivo e in vitro. Genotoxic, biochemical, physiological and morphofunctional studies will be done in test-organisms to identify the mechanism of action of this mixture of this metallic contaminants and effects in the animal performance in the face of environmental challenges. The integration and range of his study for evaluating the toxic potential of APM, aquatic contamination and sublethal damages to the biota is innovative and highly relevant for future decisions regarding to this type of contamination and until now neglected by the environmental legislation (AU)