Fate and impacts of microplastics and pesticides in aquatic and terrestrial matrices in agricultural contexts

• Grant number: 22/12104-4
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2023
• End date: November 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Cassiana Carolina Montagner
• Grantee: Cassiana Carolina Montagner
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Pesquisadores principais: Evaldo Luiz Gaeta Espindola ; Walter Ruggeri Waldman
• Associated researchers: Ana Letícia Madeira Sanches ; Andreia Neves Fernandes ; Camila Leite Madeira ; Cornelis Adrianus Maria van Gestel ; Daniel Schlenk ; Gisela de Aragão Umbuzeiro ; Javier Erick Lobatón Villa ; Juliane Silberschmidt Freitas ; Leandro Wang Hantao ; Lenoble Véronique ; Marco-Aurelio de Paoli ; Marco Tadeu Grassi ; Maria Cristina Canela Gazotti ; Michiel Adriaan Daam ; Ohanna Maria Menezes Madeiro da Costa ; Raquel Aparecida Moreira ; Raul de Oliveira Freitas ; Theodore Burdick Henry ; Walter Ruggeri Waldman
• Associated research grant(s): 24/16190-8 - Multi-user equipment approved in grant 2022/12104-4: analisador de carbono orgânico total (TOC), marca Shimadzu modelo TOC-LCSH FA, AP.EMU; 24/17728-1 - Multi-user equipment approved in grant 2022/12104-4: microscópio de imagem FT-IR LUMOS II, Bruker, LUMOSII-IMGX, AP.EMU; 24/02189-8 - Microplastics and their effects on the degradation of the pesticide atrazine, AP.R
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/15151-9 - Microplastics, pesticides, and entomofauna of aquatic ecosystems: toxicological effects at different functional levels over the life cycle of Chironomus sancticaroli, BP.PD; 24/21003-2 - Ecotoxicological effects of polyethylene microplastic and pesticides, alone and in mixtures, on the embryonic development of Zebrafish (Danio rerio), BP.IC; 24/08669-1 - Influence of degradation on the toxicity of microplastics to aquatic species: a comparative study between pristine and degraded polyethylene, BP.IC; + associated scholarships 24/16591-2 - Toxicokinetics and transport of microplastics in freshwater aquatic macroinvertebrates, BP.IC; 24/10480-4 - Synthesis and characterization of gold nanostars and their evaluation in the SERS detection of pesticides, BP.IC; 24/08039-8 - Ecotoxicological effects of microplastics and pesticides, isolated and in mixture, on the native species Chironomus sancticaroli (Diptera) in freshwater aquatic ecosystems, BP.PD; 24/12350-0 - Ecological and ecotoxicological analysis of the toxicity of microplastics and pesticides, isolated and in mixtures, using a multispecies test system, BP.PD; 24/13636-5 - Evaluation of pesticide and microplastic contamination levels in Brazilian soil and freshwater systems followed by ecological risk assessment, BP.DD; 24/15381-4 - Development of an Editorial Project for dialogue channels with different stakeholders within the scope of the research project Fate and impacts of microplastics and pesticides in aquatic and terrestrial matrices in agricultural contexts, BP.JC; 24/12274-2 - Effects of the influence of photodegradation of polyethylene microplastics and their interaction with imidacloprid insecticide on toxicity to Daphnia similis (Cladocera), BP.IC; 23/16350-2 - Investigation of the interaction between polyethylene and the herbicide Tebuthiuron in aqueous matrices: sorption, density influence, and ecotoxicological effects, BP.PD; 24/06140-3 - Fate and impacts of microplastics and pesticides in aquatic and terrestrial matrices in agricultural contexts, BP.JC; 24/01815-2 - Sorption of the insecticide fipronil on polyethylene microplastics: toxicity effects on Chironomus sancticaroli and Daphnia similis, BP.IC; 24/00791-2 - Ecotoxicological effects of the microplastic polyethylene and the pesticide imidacloprid, alone and in a mixture, on the aquatic invertebrates Daphnia similis (Cladocera) and Hyalella meinerti (Amphipoda), BP.DR; 24/06123-1 - Fate and impacts of microplastics and pesticides in aquatic and terrestrial matrices in agricultural contexts, BP.JC - associated scholarships

Abstract

Contamination of the environment by plastic particles [e.g., particles < 5 mm in size known as microplastics (MPs)] has emerged as among the most prominent issues currently confronted by government environmental agencies globally. Although these particles generally have low toxicity, they are highly persistent and their ability to sorb toxicants and leach their additives has potential to alter the environmental fate and ecotoxicity of these substances. Plastic materials used within the agriculture sector is one major source of MPs into freshwaters, and substances such as pesticides can be associated with these particles, generating unknown consequences in the environment. Pesticides are among the greatest challenges to sustainability in the agribusiness model, and the environmental implications of pesticides are likely affected by the presence of MPs. An ongoing challenge to understanding the environmental fate of pesticides are processes that influence their sorption to particles in the aqueous phase, and these particles now include the presence of MPs. In this project, we propose a multidisciplinary approach to investigate how pesticides and microplastics mutually and individually influence their fate, transport and toxicity in soil and freshwater ecosystems. Both pesticides and MPs are highly relevant environmental contaminants in freshwaters of countries such as Brazil, which combine large regions of intensive agricultural production that have strong impacts on the provision of ecological services of these environments. The innovative integrated experimental design will include (1) laboratory and mesocosms experiments to better understand sorption/desorption of pesticides to MPs under different environmental conditions, presence of biofilms, plastic addictive, etc. and, (2) key toxicological tests (acute and chronic) in order to assess bioavailability, behavioral and physiological effects and lethal concentration caused by association of those contaminants to organisms, in addition to the effects on ecosystem functions and services. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SANCHES, ANA LETICIA MADEIRA; PINTO, THANDY JUNIO DA SILVA; DAAM, MICHIEL ADRIAAN; TERESA, FABRICIO BARRETO; VIEIRA, BRUNA HORVATH; REGHINI, MARINA VANDERLEI; DE ALMEIDA, EDUARDO ALVES; ESPINDOLA, EVALDO LUIZ GAETA. Isolated and mixed effects of pure and formulated abamectin and difenoconazole on biochemical biomarkers of the gills of Danio rerio. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY, v. 273, p. 8-pg., 2024-06-12. (22/12104-4, 14/14621-0, 17/05543-3, 23/02121-1, 23/02708-2, 22/14293-9)

SEBASTIAO, GLAUCIA I. A.; RANI-BORGES, BARBARA; DIPOLD, JESSICA; FREITAS, ANDERSON Z.; WETTER, NIKLAUS U.; ANDO, ROMULO A.; WALDMAN, WALTER R.. Forensic determination of adhesive vinyl microplastics in urban soils. Journal of Environmental Management, v. 373, p. 10-pg., 2024-12-06. (22/11983-4, 22/15586-0, 22/12104-4, 17/50332-0, 18/19240-5)

S. GOMES, RAIMARA; FERNANDES, ANDREIA N.; WALDMAN, WALTER R.. How to Measure Polymer Degradation? An Analysis of Authors' Choices When Calculating the Carbonyl Index. Environmental Science & Technology, v. 58, n. 17, p. 8-pg., 2024-04-16. (22/12104-4)