Presence of lead and microplastics in samples from the ABC Region: from identification of environmental risks to mitigation strategies

• Grant number: 24/21690-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: April 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Toxicological Analysis
• Principal Investigator: Bruno Lemos Batista
• Grantee: Caroline Cristine Augusto
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The increasing presence of microplastics (MPs) in the environment is a cause for great concern due to their negative effects on ecosystem health and the amplification of contamination by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). MPs, plastic fragments smaller than 5 mm, are generated both by the degradation of larger plastic materials and by the direct production of items such as cosmetics and packaging. Their presence in soil, water and living organisms is increasing and dangerous, especially due to their potential to adsorb PTEs and facilitate their dispersion through the food chain. In the aquatic environment, MPs act as vectors of heavy metals, allowing contaminants such as Pb to be ingested by organisms, from plankton to fish, and accumulate in fauna and flora, affecting the entire food chain, including human health. In agricultural soils, MPs alter chemical and physical properties, such as pH, increasing the mobility of metals and, consequently, their toxicity. This negatively affects biodiversity, compromising ecosystem functionality and agricultural productivity, especially in rice crops, which are highly vulnerable to metal uptake by roots. This project proposes to evaluate the presence of MPs and Pb in environmental samples from the ABC region of São Paulo in order to apply analytical methods to understand the behavior of Pb in the presence of MPs in different environments and their health risks. To this end, we will use advanced analytical techniques, such as ICP-MS and FTIR, which allow the precise quantification of MPs and trace metals and isotope ratio, in addition to studying the adsorption and desorption of lead under simulated environmental conditions. We will explore an innovative mitigation strategy, using silver nanoparticles associated with the fungus Trichoderma to reduce environmental contamination by MPs. The expected results will contribute significantly to advancing the understanding of the synergistic effects between MPs and toxic metals in ecosystems, in addition to providing the possibility of developing more effective environmental policies.