Eco-innovation and ecotoxicology applied to monitoring and pesticides risk analysis of the largest continuous remnant of the Atlantic Forest

• Grant number: 23/02121-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: May 01, 2024
• End date: April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Metabolism and Bioenergetics
• Principal Investigator: Ana Letícia Madeira Sanches
• Grantee: Ana Letícia Madeira Sanches
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus do Vale do Ribeira. Registro , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Carlos Augusto Prata Gaona ; Catherine Torres de Almeida ; Érico Tadao Teramoto ; Evaldo Luiz Gaeta Espindola ; Guilherme Wolff Bueno ; Levi Pompermayer Machado ; Michiel Adriaan Daam
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/09369-1 - Installation, organization and maintenance of organisms in the Ecotoxicology Laboratory, BP.TT

Abstract

Southeastern Brazil has the largest continuous remnant of the Atlantic Forest biome, being considered a Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO due to its biodiversity and nature. Despite efforts to ensure that growth in agricultural production occurs in a sustainable and safe manner, the use of pesticides increases the risks to natural ecosystems and there are many environmental damages generated in different compartments. The main objective of this proposal is the application of innovative methodologies in ecotoxicology based on the use of precipitation data (machine learning) and the development of prototypes applied to sustainable assistive technology, for the assessment of toxicity and monitoring of aquatic environments potentially contaminated by mixtures of pesticides. To achieve this, microfluidic chips will be created in 3D printers, where embryos and larvae of non-target organisms will be inserted and exposed to contaminated samples with a concentration gradient of pesticide mixtures to observe the deleterious effects (toxicity, behavior, morphological and biochemical changes, etc. .). Enzymatic biosensors will be developed for the rapid detection of pesticide residues in the field, as an alternative, accessible, fast and cheap methodology compared to chemical analyzes in the laboratory. The use of geoprocessing techniques will make it possible to obtain spatially explicit information about pesticide contamination, providing a comprehensive view of the dispersion patterns of these residues in the environment, supporting environmental monitoring and remediation strategies. Traditional ecotoxicological analyzes (acute and short-term chronic tests) will be conducted in order to evaluate the toxicity of the mixtures, and support the Environmental Risk Analysis for the use of pesticides in the Atlantic Forest. Modeling based on the use of machine learning will be tested to develop predictive analysis tools for potential risks to biological communities. (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)