The use of a relevant teleost model in ecotoxicology to characterize the effect of contamination by settable atmospheric particulate matter (SePM)

• Grant number: 24/13268-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: March 12, 2025
• End date: March 11, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Compared Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Cléo Alcantara Costa Leite
• Grantee: Carolina Fernandes de Angelis
• Supervisor: Paula Ines Borralho Domingues
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade de Aveiro (UA), Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/14486-4 - The use of relevant teleost models to characterize the effect of setteable atmospheric particulate matter (SePM) contamination, BP.PD

Abstract

The settleable fraction of atmospheric particulate matter (SePM) consists of a complex mixture of particles, including metallic nanoparticles. SePM has been described as an important sublethal pollutant with emerging characteristics and components and involved in air-water cross-contamination, bioaccumulation and biomagnification processes. It is suspected of causing relevant damage to both aquatic biota and the human population. In Brazil, this contamination is characteristic of places with a high level of steelmaking activity and iron ore exports (e.g. Tubarão industrial complex - ES), estuarine region, which adds a new level of difficulty to investigating the problem. Recent studies by our group have demonstrated potential damages from SePM on fish fauna. Environmentally relevant levels of SePM cause relevant functional problems such as damage to the gills, changes in ventilation, limits in the oxygen transport capacity in the blood, reduced immune activity, reduced aerobic capacity, swimming capacity and response to hypoxia, among others. However, several other pieces of information are relevant to assess the level of real risk to natural fish populations. The objective of this project is to analyze how severe the sublethal effects of SePM are on functional parameters and biomarkers, as well as the projection of the problem in the initial development of the offspring of a model of toxicological relevance, the zebrafish, Danio rerio. Therefore, experiments will be developed to evaluate the main effects of SePM, its potential functional and generational limitations. This information will allow us to better understand the emerging problem.