Atmospheric particulate matter and environmental contamination: Impact assessment for marine invertebrate of fisherie and aquaculture relevance

• Grant number: 23/04265-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: May 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Camilo Dias Seabra Pereira
• Grantee: Fabrini Copetti Temistocles de Oliveira Alves
• 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 steelmaking industry, often located near fishing and aquaculture activities, contributes to the emission of settleable atmospheric particulate matter (SeAPM) containing free metals, metalloids, and nanoparticles, including contaminants considered emerging pollutants. Previous studies have identified the origin and transfer of these contaminants within the trophic chain in aquatic systems situated in the Tubarão Complex (ES), demonstrating negative impacts on the biota. However, the potential bioaccumulation and toxicological effects of SeAPM on aquatic invertebrates have not been thoroughly investigated in scientific research. Thus, linked to the FAPESP Thematic Project (Process #2019/08491-0), this study proposes a comprehensive investigation into the mechanisms of internalization, bioavailability, subcellular partitioning, defense responses, and sublethal damage in various biological processes, using the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei as a model organism. Additionally, the project aims to employ precision aquaculture techniques, which are novel for this species, to address critical, unresolved questions regarding contamination challenges in areas near steelmaking industries. To achieve these objectives, long-term exposure experiments (30 days of exposure followed by 15 days of depuration) will be conducted in laboratory settings, evaluating defense mechanisms, sublethal damage, bioaccumulation pathways, and behavioral responses. The underlying hypothesis posits that the selected invertebrate species will provide insightful scenarios regarding the toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics of SeAPM in coastal aquatic ecosystems. The breadth of data, integration of results, and innovative techniques applied in this study are expected to contribute significantly to decision-making processes regarding contamination of this nature-issues that remain largely overlooked by Brazilian environmental regulations.