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Integrating real-time monitoring and ecotoxicology using a neotropical stream as a study case

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Edimar Olegário de Campos Júnior at Federal University of Juiz de Fora
Edimar Olegário de Campos Júnior
Boscolli Barbosa Pereira at Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU)
Boscolli Barbosa Pereira
Nathan Barros at Federal University of Juiz de Fora
Nathan Barros
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This study pioneers the evaluation of toxicity in the Coromandel stream, located in the southeastern region of Brazil, highlighting the essential role of ecotoxicology in informing environmental management decisions. We employed bioindicators to assess the water quality across multiple collection points along the stream, focusing on its physical, chemical, and ecotoxicological characteristics. The investigation utilized Allium cepa seeds and Dendrocephalus brasiliensis nauplii to conduct acute ecotoxicological tests, examining cytotoxic and genotoxic effects, including the mitotic index and micronuclei frequency for A. cepa and immobility rates for D. brasiliensis. Our findings reveal significant pollution impacts, particularly in areas affected by residential and industrial activities, where increased immobility in D. brasiliensis and heightened genotoxic potential were observed. These outcomes indicate deteriorating water quality and underscore the urgency for targeted environmental interventions. Real-time monitoring further identified critical alterations in water parameters, underscoring the stream sections with significant anthropogenic influence as hotspots for pollution and toxic risk. This research underscores the importance of integrated ecotoxicological assessments in detecting and addressing environmental threats in freshwater ecosystems.
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Hydrobiologia
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-024-05687-z
EMERGENT ISSUES ONNEOTROPICAL WATERS
Integrating real‑time monitoring andecotoxicology using
aneotropical stream asastudy case
EdimarOlegáriodeCamposJúnior ·
BoscolliBarbosaPereira ·
NathanOliveiraBarros
Received: 30 January 2024 / Revised: 10 August 2024 / Accepted: 20 August 2024
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024
frequency for A. cepa and immobility rates for D.
brasiliensis. Our findings reveal significant pollution
impacts, particularly in areas affected by residential
and industrial activities, where increased immobility
in D. brasiliensis and heightened genotoxic potential
were observed. These outcomes indicate deteriorating
water quality and underscore the urgency for targeted
environmental interventions. Real-time monitoring
further identified critical alterations in water parame-
ters, underscoring the stream sections with significant
anthropogenic influence as hotspots for pollution and
toxic risk. This research underscores the importance
of integrated ecotoxicological assessments in detect-
ing and addressing environmental threats in freshwa-
ter ecosystems.
Keywords Bioindicator· Genotoxicity· Aquatic
ecotoxicology· Environmental assessment
Introduction
Urban rivers and streams are often used for illegal
sewage discharge (Iloms etal., 2020), which has det-
rimental effects on ecosystem conservation, disrupt-
ing natural habitats and negatively impacting bio-
diversity. Illegal sewage discharges are attributed to
the improper management of natural resources, lead-
ing to social, economic, and environmental implica-
tions (Bradford et al., 2020). The direct or indirect
discharge of domestic, industrial, or agricultural
Abstract This study pioneers the evaluation of tox-
icity in the Coromandel stream, located in the south-
eastern region of Brazil, highlighting the essential
role of ecotoxicology in informing environmental
management decisions. We employed bioindicators
to assess the water quality across multiple collec-
tion points along the stream, focusing on its physical,
chemical, and ecotoxicological characteristics. The
investigation utilized Allium cepa seeds and Dendro-
cephalus brasiliensis nauplii to conduct acute ecotox-
icological tests, examining cytotoxic and genotoxic
effects, including the mitotic index and micronuclei
Guest editors: André M. Amado, Roberto J. P. Dias,
Sthefane D’ávila & Simone J. Cardoso / Emergent Issues
of Neotropical Aquatic Ecosystems in the Anthropocene
Supplementary Information The online version
contains supplementary material available at https:// doi.
org/ 10. 1007/ s10750- 024- 05687-z.
E.O.deCamposJúnior· N.O.Barros
Department ofBiology, Federal University ofJuiz de Fora,
Rua José Lourenço Kelmer, JuizdeFora, MinasGerais,
Brazil
E.O.deCamposJúnior(*)
Institute ofBiology, Federal University ofJuiz de Fora,
JuizdeFora, MinasGerais, Brazil
e-mail: edimarcampos@yahoo.com.br
B.B.Pereira
Department ofEnvironmental Health, Federal University
ofUberlândia, Santa Mônica Campus, Uberlândia,
MinasGerais, Brazil
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
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