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Abstract Environmental concentrations of Pb have been increased due to anthropogenic activities, which have provoked the released of this element to the environment in large amounts. To understand how Pb behaves in remote southern marine ecosystems, we measured Pb concentrations and isotope ratios in biota from coastal marine ecosystems of the Chilean Patagonia and the Antarctic Peninsula area. Lead concentrations in the aquatic organisms ranged from 0.02 to 1.19 mg kg−1 d.w. In Patagonia, higher Pb levels were found in fish than in invertebrates (crab, shrimp, porifera, limpet and shellfish). In comparison with the baseline reference values from other parts of the world, fishes exhibited lower Pb levels. The results of Pb isotopic compositions indicated that the bioaccumulation of Pb in marine organisms come from different anthropogenic sources. These Pb levels might be useful for further studies that allow a deeper evaluation of sources for Pb contamination in these remote ecosystems. Highlights • Lead was measured in tissues of macroinvertebrates and fishes from Patagonia and Antarctica. • Lead concentrations in the aquatic organisms are lower than those measured at lower latitudes. • Pb in marine ecosystems studied are due mainly to anthropogenic activities instead of natural sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In aquatic environments, Cd contamination is a great concern because this non-essential metal presents risks both for wildlife and human health. Data about the concentration and transfer of Cd in Patagonian and Antarctic aquatic food webs are crucial for assessing the impacts of this element in pristine ecosystems. Consequently, the concentration of Cd was measured in thirty-two species collected in the 2014 austral summer from two locations of the Western Patagonia and two locations of the Antarctic Peninsula. The main objective of this work was to assess the relationship between Cd concentration and trophic level determined by δ15N. In the studied trophic positions, Cd showed a positive relationship between concentration and trophic level, which suggests biomagnification of this element in macroinvertebrates. However, there was a significant dilution when higher trophic organisms were considered. Highlights • Cadmium was measured in organisms along food chains from remote marine coastal ecosystems. • Cadmium concentrations in biota studied here are lower than those measured at lower latitudes. • Biomagnification and biodilution of Cd were noted within macroinvertebrates and whole food webs, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Blubber samples from three delphinid species (false killer whale, Guiana and rough-toothed dolphin), as well as liver samples from franciscana dolphins were analyzed for dioxins and related compounds (DRCs). Samples were collected from 35 cetaceans stranded or incidentally captured in a highly industrialized and urbanized area (Southeast and Southern Brazilian regions). Dioxin-like PCBs accounted for over 83% of the total TEQ for all cetaceans. Non-ortho coplanar PCBs, for franciscanas (82%), and mono-ortho PCBs (up to 80%), for delphinids, constituted the groups of highest contribution to total TEQ. Regarding franciscana dolphins, significant negative correlations were found between total length (TL) and three variables, ΣTEQ-DRCs, ΣTEQ-PCDF and ΣTEQ non-ortho PCB. An increasing efficiency of the detoxifying activity with the growth of the animal may be a plausible explanation for these findings. This hypothesis is reinforced by the significant negative correlation found between TL and PCB126/PCB169 concentration ratio. DRC concentrations (ng/glipids) varied from 36 to 3006, for franciscana dolphins, as well as from 356 to 30,776, for delphinids. The sum of dioxin-like and indicator PCBs varied from 34,662 to 279,407ng/glipids, for Guiana dolphins from Rio de Janeiro state, which are among the highest PCB concentrations ever reported for cetaceans. The high concentrations found in our study raise concern not only on the conservation of Brazilian coastal cetaceans, but also on the possibility of human health problem due to consumption of fish from Brazilian estuaries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Liver samples from 53 Franciscana dolphins along the Brazilian coast were analyzed for organobrominated compounds. Target substances included the following anthropogenic pollutants: polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), pentabromoethylbenzene (PBEB), hexabromobenzene (HBB), decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE), as well as the naturally-generated methoxylated-PBDEs (MeO-PBDEs). PBDE concentrations ranged from 6 to 1797 ng/g lw (mean 166 ± 298 ng/g lw) and were similar to those observed in cetaceans from Northern Hemisphere. PBBs were found in all sampling locations (

Abstract: The present study investigated organochlorine compound levels (PCBs, DDTs and HCB) in blubber samples of six delphinid species from Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazilian coast. The species analyzed inhabit the continental shelf (one killer whale, one false killer whale, two bottlenose dolphins, three rough-toothed dolphins, and four long-beaked common dolphins) and open ocean (four Fraser''s dolphins). PCBs represented the greatest proportion of the sum of all measured organochlorines (from 0.60 to 257.2μgg−1 lw), followed by DDTs (from 0.15 to 125.6μgg−1 lw), and, at last, HCB (from

Abstract: Liver samples from 51 cetaceans, comprising 10 species, stranded between 1994 and 2006 in a highly industrialized and urbanized region in Southeast Brazil, were analyzed for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and methoxylated-PBDEs (MeO-PBDEs). A concentration range of PBDEs (3–5960ng/g lw) similar to that observed in Northern Hemisphere dolphins was found. MeO-PBDE concentrations in continental shelf (CS) dolphins from Brazil are among the highest detected to date in cetaceans (up to 250µg/g lw). Higher ΣMeO-PBDE concentrations were measured in CS and oceanic dolphins than in estuarine dolphins. The ΣPBDE/ΣMeO-PBDE ratio varied significantly ranging from a mean value of 7.12 to 0.08 and 0.01 for estuarine, CS and oceanic species, respectively. A positive correlation was observed between ΣPBDE and year of stranding of male estuarine dolphins (Sotalia guianensis), which suggests temporal variation in the exposure. Placental transfer of organobrominated compounds was also evidenced in S. guianensis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In Brazil, there is no restriction to the use of organotins (OTs). Previous investigations have shown that hepatic ∑Sn in cetaceans is predominantly organic. Hepatic ∑Sn concentrations were determined by GFAAS in 67 cetaceans (13 species) that stranded on Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and Espirito Santo (ES) states. Concentrations (in ng/g wet wt.) of marine tucuxis (n =20) from the highly contaminated Guanabara Bay (in RJ) varied from 1703 to 9638. Concentrations of three marine tucuxi foetuses and one newborn calf (all from Guanabara Bay) varied between 431 and 2107. Contrastingly, the maximum level among 19 oceanic dolphins was 346, and 15 out of these 19 specimens presented concentrations below detection limit. The levels of Sn in six marine tucuxis from a less contaminated area (ES) varied from below detection limit to 744. Comparing to the literature, coastal cetaceans from Brazil appear to be highly exposed to OTs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In several countries, flower import regulations are restricted to food security, by establishing maximum residue limits (MRL) for pesticides in flower-based food products and biosafety, in order to limit the circulation of vectors, pests and exotic species across borders. In this context, the lack of limits on pesticides in flower-products for ornamental purposes can influence the pesticide overuse in production areas, as well as the transfer of contaminated products between countries. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to discuss possible adverse effects on human and environmental health of pesticides used in floriculture, evaluating regulations on the use of these pesticides in the main importing and flower-producing countries. This review included 92 documents. The use of 201 compounds was identified by interviews and analytical measurements. Among them, 93 are banned by the European Union (EU), although 46.3 % of these compounds have been identified in samples from European countries. Latin American countries have a large number of scientific publications on pesticides in flower production (n = 51), while the EU and China have less studies (n = 24) and the United States and Japan have no studies. Regarding adverse health effects, poorer neurobehavioral development, reproductive disorders, congenital malformations and genotoxicity have been reported for residents of flower production areas and workers throughout the flower production cycle. Studies including water samples show overuse of pesticides, while environmental impacts are related to water and air contamination, soil degradation and adverse effects on the reproduction and development of non-target organisms. This review points out that the absence of MRL for non-edible flowers can be crucial for the trade of contaminated products across borders, including pesticides banned in importing countries. Furthermore, setting limits on flowers could reduce the use of pesticides in producing countries. [Display omitted] • Latin America has a high scientific production on pesticides in flower production. • Two hundred pesticides were identified by interviews and analytical measurements. • Importing countries do not set limits on pesticides in ornamental flowers. • Pesticide limits in flowers should reduce human exposure in exporting countries. • Cross-border trade of contaminated flower products deserves special attention. Setting pesticide limits for ornamental flowers can reduce human exposure and environmental contamination in producing countries and restrict cross-border trade in contaminated products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A previous investigation of our research team has demonstrated the suitability of using hepatic total tin (ΣSn) concentrations for evaluating dolphin exposure to organotins (OTs). The present study develops the previous technique into three different approaches that comprise data: (1) on hepatic ΣSn concentrations of 121 Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) from five different coastal areas (CAs): (2) on ΣSn, δ13C and δ15N for 40 dolphins from Rio de Janeiro state (RJ), including ten different delphinid species; as well as (3) on hepatic ΣSn concentrations and δ15N values on 31 individuals from five different fish species from Sepetiba Bay (SB, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, Brazil). Hepatic ΣSn concentrations of Guiana dolphins from Guanabara Bay (GB, RJ) were significantly higher than those found in other four CAs from S and SE Brazilian regions. Significant positive correlations were found between ΣSn concentrations and δ13C data in delphinid species, demonstrating a coast-ocean gradient in dolphin exposure to OTs in RJ state. Significant and positive correlations were observed between ΣSn concentrations and both δ15N and Trophic Position (TP) values of fish, as well as high values were found for Trophic Magnification Factor (TMF = 3.03) and Trophic Magnification Slope (TMS = 0.14), demonstrating OT biomagnification in SB ichthyofauna. • OT biomagnification (via ΣSn concentrations) was found in Sepetiba Bay ichthyofauna. • Decreasing coast-ocean OT concentrations were found in dolphins from Rio de Janeiro. • Guanabara Bay (RJ, Brazil) is a major hotspot of environmental contamination by OTs. • The TMF value for ΣSn was similar to those found in literature for TBT, DBT and ΣBT. • Total tin (ΣSn) positively correlated to total length in juvenile Guiana dolphins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) is one of the most commercially important species along the Atlantic coast of South America. Moreover, some of its biological traits (long life span, inshore feeding, high trophic position) make this species a suitable sentinel of coastal pollution. Here, we investigated contamination by multiple legacy and emerging organic pollutants, such as brominated and chlorinated flame retardants, polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), in whitemouth croakers from two estuaries (Guanabara and Sepetiba Bays) located in industrialized and urbanized areas in Rio de Janeiro State, Southeastern Brazil. Furthermore, we assessed how biological and ecological features could explain the observed contamination patterns. Regarding brominated flame retardants, concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) varied from 7.6 to 879.7 pg g−1 wet weight (w.w.), with high contribution of tetra-, penta-, hexa- and deca-BDEs. The sum of chlorinated flame retardants (dechlorane-related compounds, ΣDRC) ranged from

Abstract: This paper reviews the available data on brominated flame retardants, the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), as well as on the naturally-produced methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDEs) in cetacean tissues around the world. Levels and possible sources of both compound classes are discussed. Odontocete cetaceans accumulate higher PBDE concentrations than mysticete species. PBDE contamination was higher in cetaceans from the Northern hemisphere, whereas MeO-PBDE levels were higher in animals from the Southern hemisphere. Southern resident killer whales from NE Pacific presented the highest levels reported in biota, followed by bottlenose dolphins from North Atlantic (U.K. and U.S. coast). Many species presented PBDE concentrations above threshold levels for health effects in odontocetes. Time trend studies indicate that PBDE concentrations in odontocetes from Japan, China, U.S. and Canada coastal zones have increased significantly over the past 30years. Studies from U.K. waters and NE Atlantic showed a decrease and/or stability of PBDE levels in cetacean tissues in recent decades. The highest MeO-PBDE concentrations were found in dolphins from Tanzania (Indian Ocean), bottlenose dolphins from Queensland, Australia (SW Pacific), and odontocetes from coastal and continental shelf waters off southeastern Brazil (SW Atlantic). The upwelling phenomenon and the presence of coral reef complexes in these tropical oceans may explain the large amounts of the naturally-produced organobromines. Considering that these bioaccumulative chemicals have properties that could cause many deleterious effects in those animals, future studies are required to evaluate the potential ecotoxicological risks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The present study constitutes the first investigation to demonstrate pyrethroid bioaccumulation in marine mammals, despite the assumption that these insecticides are converted to non-toxic metabolites by hydrolysis in mammals. Twelve pyrethroids were determined in liver samples from 23 male franciscana dolphins from Brazil. The median concentration values for total pyrethroids were 7.04 and 68.4ng/g lw in adults and calves, respectively. Permethrin was the predominant compound, contributing for 55% of the total pyrethroids. Results showed a distinct metabolic balance of pyrethroids through dolphin life. High loads are received at the beginning of their lives and, when they reach sexual maturity, these mammals seem to degrade/metabolize pyrethroids. Maternal transfer of these compounds was also evaluated through the analysis of breast milk and placenta samples. Pyrethroids were detected in both matrices, with values between 2.53–4.77ng/g lw and 331–1812ng/g lw, respectively. Therefore, for the first time, a study shows mother-to-calf transfer of pyrethroids by both gestational and lactation pathways in dolphins. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]