Study Employing Socioeconomically and Ecologically Relevant Bioindicators in the Estuaries of Santos and Cananéia: A One Health Approach.

• Grant number: 25/15633-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: January 01, 2026
• End date: December 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biology
• Principal Investigator: Camilo Dias Seabra Pereira
• Grantee: Mariana Caltabiano Frank
• Host Institution: Instituto do Mar (IMar). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Aquatic system contamination is one of the most critical environmental issues, particularly in coastal and marine ecosystems that are vulnerable to metal inputs from domestic and industrial discharges. Estuarine organisms, such as the benthic filter-feeding bivalve Mytella strigata, can serve as effective tools for assessing environmental quality and the bioavailability of pollutants to aquatic biota and humans. To gain deeper insight into the processes of exposure, effect, and bioaccumulation of non-essential metals, this project will employ biomarkers, total bioaccumulation analyses, and subcellular metal partitioning in M. strigata, correlating these data with contamination levels detected in sediments. Samples will be collected from the Santos estuary and reference areas along the southern coast of São Paulo, particularly in the Cananéia region and the Juréia-Itatins Ecological Station. The project aims to analyze metal-binding proteins (metallothioneins), antioxidant enzymes (CAT, GPx, and GST), genotoxic effects (micronucleus), and cytotoxic effects (lysosomal membrane stability). Additionally, it will evaluate total metal bioaccumulation and subcellular partitioning in specific organelles to better understand the relationship between defense mechanisms, levels of bioaccumulation, biologically active metals at the cellular level, and biological effects. This study seeks to assess the health status of the species, its safety for human consumption, and the associated risks based on international protocols (e.g., USEPA). As such, the integrated approach proposed aligns with the One Health concept, providing an unprecedented level of robustness to the data generated. The results are expected to support the development of public policies targeting the estuarine zones under study. (AU)