Study of the viability of formulated sediments for use in ecotoxicological tests: emphasis on the effect of 17B-Estradiol on Hyalella azteca.

• Grant number: 12/02120-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2012
• End date: April 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Renata Fracácio Francisco
• Grantee: Tamires Jurça Cardoso de Lima
• Host Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus Experimental de Sorocaba. Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The endocrine disruptors (ED) are an emerging class of contaminants in aquatic systems of Brazil. This fact, coupled with the absence of water quality standards and issuing to them in legislation, is relevant studies related to their behavior and interactions in aquatic systems, as well as their role in biological systems. To this end, the overall objectives of this work are: 1) assess the behavior of 17B-estradiol (E2) on test organisms representative of the sediment in the presence of Aquatic Humic Substances (AHS), mimicking real situations, avoiding therefore overestimate or underestimate the toxic potential of the same and 2) Establish protocols possible formulations applicable to sediment toxicity tests to study the behavior of the pollutant. To evaluate the toxicity of the complex behavior and SHA-IE sediment various formulations tested are based on actual conditions, with emphasis on the source and concentration of SHA, in order to provide reliability in ecotoxicological studies. The test organism used is the freshwater amphipod Hyalella azteca epibentônico, considering the initial stages of development to sexual maturity. The development of experimental protocols to allow sediments formulated using standardized methodology between laboratories and consequently, greater reliability in the comparison of data on concentration-response studies. This work could contribute to establish standards of endocrine disruptors in sediment.