by Wong Tak-ching. / Bibliography: p. 136-139 / Thesis (M.Ph.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1985

No description available.

O presente estudo analisou a influência do emissário submarino de esgoto sobre as associações de foraminíferos, regionalmente (macroescala) e localmente (microescala), na Enseada do Guarujá e Baía de Santos. Foram analisadas, em macroescala, 26 amostras coletadas na Enseada do Guarujá e 24 na Baía de Santos. As amostras foram obtidas no inverno de 1997 e verão de 1998. Em microescala foram coletadas 10 amostras próximo aos difusores do emissário de Santos em abril de 2004. Em cada estação foram obtidos dados hidrográficos e sedimentológicos. Foi analisada a composição das associações de foraminíferos, descrevendo as variações espaciais e temporais em relação as variáveis ambientais. Em macroescala, a influência da disposição oceânica não foi conclusiva, devido à baixa densidade da biocenose. Entretanto, análises das tanatocenoses (tafonômicas e morfométricas) e dos dados sedimentológicos possibilitaram distinguir dois setores morfossedimentares na Enseada do Guarujá e na Baía de Santos. O primeiro setor localizado na porção oeste possui sedimentos arenosos, com baixos teores de C e N, baixa densidade e riqueza de foraminíferos. O segundo localiza-se nas porções central-leste e apresenta predominância de lama, com altos teores de C e N e elevada densidade e riqueza de foraminíferos. Os resultados das razões C/S permitiram detectar sedimentos anóxicos próximo ao emissário da Enseada do Guarujá no inverno, e na Baía de Santos no inverno e verão. Em microescala, os dados hidrogeoquímicos e sedimentológicos indicaram que a área circunjacente aos difusores está hipereutrofizada, apresentando altos teores de C, N, P e S tanto na água como nos sedimentos. As baixas razões C/S indicaram presença de ambiente com características fortemente redutoras. Em microescala, a análise da composição e distribuição das biocenoses indicou que as características ambientais da Baía de Santos estão influenciando diretamente as associações de foraminíferos, diminuindo os valores de densidade e riqueza. Desse modo conclui-se que o pré-tratamento dos efluentes de Santos é precário, tornando a região dos difusores mais um grande foco de poluição na baía. / The present study analyzed the influence of submarine sewage outfall upon foraminifera assemblages on a regional (macro scale) and local (micro scale), in Guarujá and Santos Bay. Fifty samples were analyzed at the macro scale, twenty six from Guarujá and twenty four from Santos Bay. The samples were collected in winter 1997 and summer 1998. At the micro scale, ten samples were collected close to sewage outfall diffusers in Santos Bay in April 2004. At each station hydrographic and sedimentological data were obtained. Spatial and seasonal variations in the composition of foraminifera assemblages were related to environmental variables. Analysis of the influence of oceanic sewage disposal at the macro scale was inconclusive due to the low density of live foraminifera. Thanatocenosis (taphonomic and morphometric analyses) and sedimentological analyses revealed two morphosedimentary sectors in Guarujá and Santos Bay, one in the western portion of the study area with sandy sediments, low C and N, low density and low richness of foraminifera, and the other, in the east-central portion, with predominance of mud, higher C and N, higher density and richness of foraminifera. C/S ratios permitted detection of anoxic sediments near sewage outfall in Guarujá in the winter, and in Santos Bay in both the winter and summer. At the micro scale, hydrogeochemical and sedimentological data indicated that area close to the diffusers is highly eutrofized, with high contents of C, N, P and S in both the water and the sediment. The low C/S ratios of the sediment indicated highly reducing conditions. At the micro scale the biocenosis composition and distribution indicated that environmental characteristics of Santos Bay directly influence the foraminifera assemblages. The results also suggest that the (pre) treatment of Santos sewage is inefficient, transforming the area of the diffusers into one more major focus of pollution in the bay.

The production and the usage of plastic material increases since the decade of 1950. Nowadays, the elevated production rate, the misusing and the waste turned plastic material in an urgent environmental and economic problem. One of the major environmental problems related to this issue is the contamination of marine environments by microplastics. These constitute plastic particles of size between 1 and 5 mm. Microplastics might occur by breaking of larger plastic pieces or as a manufactured product. The plastic pellets are among this second class, these are small plastic spherules (≥ 5 mm) used in the plastics industry as raw material for the production of manufactured products. It is hypothesized that plastic pellets reach the marine environment due to losses in port terminals or accidental and intentional releases by commercial ships. The present study evaluated the contamination of the coastal zone by microplastics in different spatial and temporal scales. This evaluation approached the dispersion of microplastics in coastal zones, and used the spatial distribution, the stranding and the accumulation of plastic pellets in sandy beaches as a proxy to disclose the behavior of the variation of microplastics in coastal zones. The results of the present paper reveal that microplastics vary both in small and large temporal and spatial scales. Therefore, the present paper brings new insights to the knowledge on microplastics pollution in coastal zones, which might give a new baseline to methodological approaches adopted in management and monitoring programs. / A produção e o consumo de plásticos vêm aumentando desde a década de 1950. Nos dias de hoje, a taxa elevada de produção, o mal-uso e o desperdício tornaram os plásticos em um problema ambiental e econômico urgente. Um dos principais problemas relacionados à esta questão é a poluição dos ambientes marinhos por microplásticos. Estes constituem partículas de plástico de tamanho que varia entre 1 e 5 mm. Microplásticos podem ocorrer em decorrência da quebra de pedaços de plásticos grandes ou podem ocorrer como um produto fabricado. Os grânulos de plástico estão nesta segunda categoria, estes são pequenas esférulas de plástico (≥ 5 mm) utilizadas como matéria prima para a produção de utensílios variados pela indústria dos plásticos. A hipótese é de que os grânulos de plástico cheguem ao ambiente marinho a partir de perdas em terminais portuários ou após liberações acidentais ou intencionais por embarcações comerciais. O presente estudo avaliou a contaminação da zona costeira por grânulos de plástico em diferentes escalas espaciais e temporais. Esta avaliação abordou a dispersão de microplásticos em regiões costeiras e utilizou a distribuição espacial o aporte e o acúmulo de grânulos de plástico como um modelo para desvendar o comportamento da variação de microplásticos em zonas costeiras. O presente estudo revelou que os microplásticos varia em escalas espaciais e temporais grandes e pequenas. Os resultados apresentados aqui podem conferir embasamento e questões metodológicas para serem adotadas em estratégias de monitoramento e gestão.

by Kwok Yuk Chun. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-124). / Text in English; abstracts in English and Chinese. / by Kwok Yuk Chun. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Contents --- p.vi / List of Figures --- p.x / List of Tables --- p.xiii / List of Plates --- p.xiv / List of Appendices --- p.xv / Chapter 1. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Hong Kong --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Sediment --- p.1 / Chapter 1.3 --- Pore water --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- Toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Phase 1: Toxicity characterization --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Phase 2: Toxicity identification --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Phase 3: Toxicity confirmation --- p.13 / Chapter 1.5 --- Bioassay --- p.15 / Chapter 1.6 --- Microtox® test --- p.16 / Chapter 2. --- OBJECTIVES --- p.18 / Chapter 3. --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.19 / Chapter 3.1 --- Source of sediment samples --- p.19 / Chapter 3.2 --- Preparation of pore water --- p.19 / Chapter 3.3 --- Phase 1 Toxicity characterization: Baseline toxicity test --- p.22 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Microtox® test --- p.22 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Phase 1 Toxicity characterization --- p.26 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- pH adjustment test --- p.27 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- pH adjustment filtration test --- p.28 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- pH adjustment aeration test --- p.29 / Chapter 3.3.6 --- pH adjustment C18 solid phase extraction (SPE) test --- p.30 / Chapter 3.3.7 --- Cation exchange test --- p.32 / Chapter 3.3.8 --- Anion exchange test --- p.33 / Chapter 3.4 --- Phase 2 Toxicity identification --- p.34 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Determination of metal ions by inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP-ES) --- p.35 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Determination of anions by ion chromatography (IC) --- p.36 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Determination of organic compounds by a total organic carbon (TOC) --- p.36 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Determination of organic compounds by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) --- p.37 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Determination of organic compounds by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS) --- p.38 / Chapter 3.4.6 --- Determination of sulphide by colorimetric method --- p.41 / Chapter 3.5 --- Phase 3 Toxicity confirmation --- p.41 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Mass balance test --- p.44 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Spiking test --- p.44 / Chapter 4. --- RESULTS --- p.45 / Chapter 4.1 --- General characteristics of the sediment collected in Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter --- p.45 / Chapter 4.2 --- General characteristics of the pore water after the centrifugation of sediment --- p.45 / Chapter 4.3 --- Phase 1-Toxicity characterization: Baseline toxicity test --- p.45 / Chapter 4.4 --- Phase 1-Toxicity characterization --- p.48 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Effect of manipulations on Sample S1 --- p.48 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Effect of manipulations on Sample S2 --- p.50 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Effect of manipulations on Sample S3 --- p.50 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Effect of manipulations on Sample S4 --- p.52 / Chapter 4.4.5 --- Effect of manipulations on Sample S5 --- p.55 / Chapter 4.4.6 --- Effect of manipulations on Sample S6 --- p.57 / Chapter 4.4.7 --- Summary of the Phase 1 manipulations on the Microtox® test --- p.59 / Chapter 4.5 --- Phase 2-Toxicity identification --- p.59 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Summary of the Phase 2 toxicity identification --- p.70 / Chapter 4.6 --- Phase 3-Toxicity confirmation --- p.70 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- Result of Phase 3 for Sample S3 --- p.70 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- Result of Phase 3 for Sample S4 --- p.73 / Chapter 4.6.3 --- Result of Phase 3 for Sample S5 --- p.76 / Chapter 4.6.4 --- Result of Phase 3 for Sample S6 --- p.79 / Chapter 4.6.5 --- Summary of the Phase 3 toxicity confirmation --- p.79 / Chapter 5. --- DISCUSSION --- p.82 / Chapter 5.1 --- Phase 1 Toxicity characterization: Baseline toxicity test --- p.82 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Baseline toxicity of whole pore water samples on the Microtox® test --- p.82 / Chapter 5.2 --- Phase 1-Toxicity characterization: Manipulations --- p.83 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Effect of manipulations on the Microtox® test --- p.83 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- pH adjustment test --- p.83 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- pH adjustment filtration test --- p.84 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- pH adjustment aeration test --- p.85 / Chapter 5.2.5 --- Cation exchange test --- p.85 / Chapter 5.2.6 --- Anion exchange test --- p.86 / Chapter 5.2.7 --- pH adjustment C18 solid phase extraction (SPE) test --- p.86 / Chapter 5.3 --- Phase 2-Toxicity identification --- p.87 / Chapter 5.4 --- Phase 3-Toxicity confirmation --- p.88 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Mass balance on the Microtox® test --- p.89 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Spiking test on the Microtox® test --- p.90 / Chapter 5.5 --- Explanation of S as the major toxicant in Phase 1，Phase 2 and Phase3 --- p.90 / Chapter 5.6 --- Characteristics of Sulphide (S2-) --- p.91 / Chapter 5.6.1 --- Sources of S2- --- p.91 / Chapter 5.6.2 --- Harmful effect of S “ and its toxicity --- p.93 / Chapter 5.6.3 --- Sulphide determination by colorimetric method --- p.94 / Chapter 5.6.4 --- Sulphide determination by other methods --- p.95 / Chapter 5.6.5 --- Sulphide preservation --- p.95 / Chapter 5.7 --- Synergistic effect of S2- and C18 SPE test elutriate --- p.96 / Chapter 5.8 --- Treatment of contaminated marine sediment in Hong Kong --- p.97 / Chapter 5.9 --- Treatment of contaminated marine sediment in Kwun Tong Typhoon Shelter --- p.98 / Chapter 5.10 --- Treatment of sediment contaminated with sulphide in Hong Kong --- p.99 / Chapter 5.11 --- Other treatment method of sediment contaminated with sulphide --- p.100 / Chapter 5.12 --- Current limitations and abilities in identification of toxicants in pore water --- p.101 / Chapter 5.13 --- Improvement and Recommendations --- p.102 / Chapter 6. --- CONCLUSIONS --- p.104 / Chapter 7. --- REFERENCES --- p.105 / Chapter 8. --- APPENDICES --- p.125

La pollution des écosystèmes marins côtiers par les hydrocarbures, en particulier les HAPs, est un problème environnemental majeur. Le même constat est fait pour le littoral Sud de Sfax (Tunisie) dont la pollution presque généralisée menace sérieusement les ressources naturelles existantes dans la région. La caractérisation physico-chimique des échantillons marins prélevés à partir des trois ports (plaisance, commerce et pêche) de la ville de Sfax, prouve une contamination par des micropolluants organiques (hydrocarbures) et inorganiques (métaux) qui sont considérés comme des excellents traceurs de la pollution urbaine et industrielle et ils font partie des composés les plus toxiques étant donné leur faible biodégradation. La méthode d’empreinte moléculaire (PCR-SSCP) montre une dominance du domaine Bacteria suivie des Eucarya et des Archaea au sein des échantillons marins étudiés. Les analyses statistiques par le logiciel R ont montré l’absence de corrélation entre la communauté bactérienne identifiée par PCR-SSCP et les paramètres physico-chimiques étudiés.Dans une autre partie de travail, quatre souches bactériennes marines hydrocarbonoclastes ont été isolées et caractérisées sur les plans phénotypique et phylogénétique, après des enrichissements sur des HAPs et sur le pétrole brut: FLU5 de Bacillus stratosphericus, NAPH6 de Pseudomonas aeruginosa, PYR2 de Bacillus licheniformis isolées sur le fluoranthène, le naphtalène et le pyrène, respectivement, en présence de 30 g/l NaCl; et CO100 de Staphylococcus sp., isolée sur le pétrole brut, en présence de 100 g/l NaCl. Les analyses chromatographiques, GC-MS ou GC-FID, montrent les capacités biodégradatives intéressantes de ces composés récalcitrants par les bactéries isolées. En outre, ces quatre souches bactériennes, sont capables de produire des biosurfactants nommés BS-FLU5, BS-NAPH6, BS-PYR2 et BS-CO100, sur plusieurs sources de carbones, y compris l’huile de friture résiduelle, un substrat bon marché, minimisant ainsi le coût élevé de production de ces tensioactifs. Les analyses MALDI-TOF/MS, des biosurfactants BS-FLU5, BS-PYR2 et BS-CO100 purifiés, montrent qu’il s’agit des lipopeptides, les biosurfactants BS-NAPH6 sont de nature rhamnolipidique, sur la base des analyses FTIR. Ces quatre biosurfactants sont caractérisés par des propriétés tensiactives intéressantes : une faible CMC, une importante réduction de la tension de surface... Ils sont stables vis-à-vis d’une large gamme de pH, de température et de salinité. De plus, ces agents tensioactifs sont doués d’activité de remobilisation des hydrocarbures contenus dans des sols pollués par. Les biosurfactants BS-FLU5, BS-PYR2 et BS-CO100, présentent des activités anti-adhésives et anti-biofilms intéressantes contre des biofilms de certains microorganismes pathogènes. Par ailleurs, une propriété cicatrisante remarquable sur des plaies d’excision chez un modèle expérimental de rats de race Wistar, a été montrée par les quatre biosurfactants pour des concentrations de l’ordre de 5 et 10 mg/ml, en comparaison avec un cicatrisant de référence (CICAFLORA®). A noter que, l’évaluation de la cytotoxicité des biosurfactants étudiés, a montré qu’ils n’ont pas des effets toxiques sur des cellules rénales humaines HEK-239 à des concentrations jusqu’à 1000 µg/ml pour BS-FLU5 et BS-CO100 et jusqu’à 200 µg/ml pour BS-NAPH6 et BS-PYR2. La production des biosurfactants de la souche FLU5 à l’échelle pilote (deux fermenteurs de 20 et 100 litres, volume total), en présence d’un milieu économique, montre une augmentation des quantités des biosurfactants produits par rapport à l’échelle laboratoire (erlenmeyer, 1 litre). L’ensemble de ces résultats prometteurs, montrent que les souches marines isolées FLU5, NAPH6, PYR2 et CO100, ainsi que leurs biosurfactants demeurent d’intérêts biotechnologiques pour divers types d’applications, tels que la bioremédiation, l’agroalimentaire, la cosmétique... / Pollution of coastal marine ecosystems by hydrocarbons, in particular polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), is a major environmental problem. The South coast of Sfax (Tunisia) is an example of a polluted ecosystem subject to both urbanization and industrialization including the outfall of untreated domestic sewage and wastewaters, fishery activities, as well as ship traffic and boat pollution. The physico-chemical characterization of the seawater taken from three harbours (pleasure, commercial and fishing) of the city of Sfax, showed a heavy contamination by organic and inorganic micropollutants. These are excellent tracers of urban and industrial pollution, and they are among the most toxic compounds due to their low biodegradation.The molecular fingerprinting technique (PCR-SSCP) showed the dominance of the Bacteria domain followed by Eucarya and Archaea within the studied marine samples. Statistical analysis using the R software, showed that no correlation was identified between the bacterial community identified by PCR-SSCP and the studied physico-chemical parameters.In another part, four marine, aerobic and hydrocarbonoclastic strains: Bacillus stratosphericus FLU5, Pseudomonas aeruginosa NAPH6, Bacillus licheniformis PYR2, isolated after enrichments on fluoranthene, naphthalene and pyrene, respectively, and in the presence of 30 g/l NaCl. Strain Staphylococcus sp. CO100 was isolated after enrichment on crude oil, in the presence of 100 g/l. Chromatographic analysis (GC-MS or GC-FID), showed the interesting biodegradative capacities of these recalcitrant compounds by the isolated bacteria.Besides, these strains showed their capacity to produce efficient surface active agents BS-FLU5, BS-NAPH6, BS-PYR2 and BS-CO100, on several substrates and in particular the residual frying oil, which is a cheap and renewable carbon source alternative, thus minimizing the high cost of producing surfactants. The MALDI-TOF/MS analysis of the purified BS-FLU5, BS-PYR2 and BS-CO100 biosurfactants revealed that they are belonging to lipopeptide family. FTIR analysis showed the glycolipid nature, more precisely the rhamnolipid type, of biosurfactant BS-NAPH6.These four biosurfactants are characterized by interesting tensioactive properties (low CMC, important surface tension reduction...). Furthermore, these surface active agents showed interest stability against a broad range of pH, temperature and salinity. The application of these biosurfactants, in oil recovery, from hydrocarbons-contaminated soil, showed that they were more effective on the hydrocarbon-remobilization than some tested synthetic surfactants. The biosurfactants BS-FLU5, BS-PYR2 and BS-CO100, were found to have notable anti-adhesif and anti-biofilm activities, being able to prevent and eliminate the biofilm formation by pathogenic microorganisms. Moreover, the four tested biosurfactants showed an interesting healing activity, on the wound site in a rat model. They increased significantly the percentage of wound closure when compared to the untreated and CICAFLORA® (a reference pharmaceutical product) treated groups, using two different concentrations (5 and 10 mg/l). Interestingly, the evaluation of the cytotoxicity of the studied biosurfactants, showed that they have no toxic effects on human HEK-239 cells at concentrations up to 1000 μg/ml for BS-FLU5 and BS-CO100 and up to 200 μg/ml for BS-NAPH6 and BS-PYR2. An attempt to produce biosurfactant produce by strain FLU5 on a pilot-scale (fermentors of 20 and 100 liter, as total volume), using a cost-effective medium, was also performed. Preliminary results showed an increase in the quantities of biosurfactantsBS-FLU5 produced on a pilot-scale compared to the lab-scale (Erlenmeyer of 1 liter).These results highlight the interest for potential use of strains FLU5, NAPH6, PYR2 and CO100, as well as their biosurfactants, in a wide variety of industrial, environmental and biotechnological applications.

A estrutura da macrofauna bentônica no Canal de São Sebastião (CSS) foi estudada durante o verão e o inverno de 2005. Na região monitorada pelo Terminal Almirante Barroso (TEBAR) foram coletadas amostras de sedimento (pegador de fundo van Veen 0,03 m2) para as análises químicas e biológicas. As estações próximas ao emissário do TEBAR, emissário de esgotos municipais do Araçá e do Porto de São Sebastião apresentaram as maiores concentrações de matéria orgânica, metais e hidrocarbonetos. Além de uma alta complexidade e heterogeneidade, o padrão sedimentar mostrou que do sul para norte houve um aumento na contribuição de sedimentos mais grossos. As análises multivariadas mostraram que os organismos coletados estiveram relacionados às características sedimentares do canal. Ao norte, um ambiente de alta energia, ocorreram espécies predadoras e suspensívoras relacionadas aos sedimentos mais grossos, refletindo maior abundância, riqueza e diversidade. A região centro-norte apresentou sedimentos areno-lodosos com ocorrência de espécies onívoras. A região centro-sul, um ambiente de baixa energia, apresentou sedimentos mais lodosos que favoreceram a retenção de compostos orgânicos e inorgânicos, bem como a ocorrência de espécies oportunistas comedoras de depósito, resultando em baixa abundância, riqueza e diversidade. O padrão sedimentar (tamanho de grão), bem como as características relacionadas a ele (capacidade de adsorção a compostos orgânicos e inorgânicos) pareceram condicionar o padrão da estrutura macrozoobentônica no CSS. / A study of benthic macrofauna was carried out along the São Sebastião Channel (SSC) during summer and winter of 2005. Sediment samples were undertaken (van Veen grab 0.03 m2) to chemical and biological analysis, in an area influenced by anthropogenic activities. The stations nearby the Terminal Almirante Barroso (TEBAR) oil terminal, Araçá sewage system and São Sebastião harbor showed the highest concentrations of organic matter, metals and hydrocarbons. The sediment distribution was very complex and heterogeneous, with a northward grain size increasing. The organisms collected presented correlation to the SSC sedimentary characteristics. The north stations, a high energy system, were characterized by a coarse grain size bottom and carnivorous motile species, which reflected highest abundance, richness and diversity values. The center-north stations were muddy-sand bottom and omnivorous species were observed there. The center-south stations, which are influenced by a low hydrodynamic energy, were predominated by a muddy bottom, leading to a high retention of organic and inorganic compounds. In these stations were found opportunistic deposit feeders species resulting in low abundance, richness and diversity. The sedimentary pattern (i.e. grain size) as well as their characteristics (adsortion capacity) seems to determine the macrozoobenthic community pattern in SSC.

Os plásticos têm trazido grandes benefícios aos humanos, sendo utilizados em diversas atividades como em aplicações médicas, entretenimento e na indústria de alimento. O uso crescente de plástico e seu descarte não adequado têm contribuído para o acúmulo deste detrito no meio ambiente, em especial nos oceanos onde tendem a acumular. Dentre os detritos de plástico de maior importância atualmente estão os microplásticos, que são partículas de plástico de tamanho entre 1 μm e 5 mm. Os principais riscos que os microplásticos oferecem são sua grande capacidade de persistência e dispersão no ambiente marinho, sua grande afinidade por poluentes persistentes orgânicos, sua a ingestão pela biota e a transferência para a teia trófica marinha. Dentre os ambientes marinhos mais impactados por microplásticos, estão as praias arenosas, onde estas partículas tendem a acumular após encalharem ao serem trazidas pelo mar. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a contaminação por microplásticos em uma praia de uma área de proteção marinha costeira e avaliar a toxicidade de pellets virgens e coletados nesta praia no desenvolvimento embriolarval de mexilhão marrom Perna perna. Foram realizadas coletas de microplásticos entre o período de fevereiro de 2014 a fevereiro de 2015 na praia de Paranapuã em duas regiões do perfil da praia (linha de maré alta e supralitoral). As partículas foram analisadas individualmente em laboratório e quanto a composição de seu polímero por Espectrofotômetro de Infravermelho por Transformada de Fourier (FT-IR). Os resultados sugerem que a poluição por microplásticos na praia de Paranapuã ocorre ao longo do ano inteiro, porém variando em concentração ao longo do tempo e com um padrão de distribuição espacial irregular na praia. A concentração de microplásticos está aparentemente relacionada com a direção do vento, tendendo a ser maior quando a direção do vento é a favor da praia. A concentração de microplásticos na praia de Paranapuã (4,72 microplásticos/m²) é próxima àquela encontrada em outras praias no mundo e da região. Os experimentos de toxicidade demonstraram que tanto pellets de plástico virgens como aqueles coletados na praia inibem o desenvolvimento embriolarval de mexilhão marrom. Entretanto, os pellets coletados na praia mostraram uma alta toxicidade que resultou numa porcentagem de larvas anormais ou mortas de 100%, significativamente superior aos pellets virgens que foi de 23,5%. Acredita-se que a diferença de toxicidade entre os pellets virgens e coletados na praia pode ser causada por contaminantes adsorvidos na superfície dos pellets coletados no campo. Os resultados deste estudo sugerem que praias de áreas de proteção marinha costeira próximas a zonas urbanas e regiões portuárias apresentam risco de contaminação por plásticos. Apesar de terem acesso restrito a humanos, os microplásticos entram nestas praias através do ambiente marinho, podendo causar efeitos adversos na fauna destes ambientes. As informações deste trabalho contribuem para a melhor compreensão dos efeitos da contaminação de ambientes costeiros por microplásticos, fornecendo informações básicas para o desenvolvimento de políticas públicas voltadas para uma gestão deste tipo de poluição em áreas de proteção ambiental. / Plastics have great benefits to humans, used in various activities such as medical applications, entertainment and food industry. The increasing use of plastic and your inappropriate disposal have contributed to the accumulation of this debris in the environment, particularly in the oceans where they tend to accumulate. Among the most important plastic waste are the microplastic which are plastic particles of size between 1 μm and 5 mm. The main risks that microplastics offer are your large capacity persistence and dispersal in the marine environment, your great affinity for persistent organic pollutants and their ingestion by biota and transfer to the marine food web. Among the marine environments most impacted by microplastics are sandy beaches where these particles tend to accumulate after carried by sea. This study evaluate the contamination by microplastics on a beach of a coastal marine protected area, and assess the virgin pellets toxicity and collected on this beach in embryo-larval development of brown mussel Perna perna. Microplastics samples were collected in the period from February 2014 to February 2015 on the beach of Paranapuã in two regions of the beach (high tide line and supralittoral). The particles were analyzed individually in the laboratory and the composition of your polymer was identified for Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results suggest that pollution microplastics in Paranapuã beach is continuous in entire year, but varying in concentration over time and with a pattern irregular of spatial distribution on the beach. The microplastics concentration is apparently related to the wind direction, tends to be higher when the wind direction is downwind. The concentration of microplastics on the beach Paranapuã (4.72 microplastics/m²) is similar to other beaches in the world. The toxicity experiments showed that both virgin plastic pellets as those collected on the beach inhibit embryo-larval development of brown mussels. However, the pellets collected at the beach showed high toxicity resulting in abnormal or percentage of dead larvae 100%, significantly higher than for virgin pellets, which was 23.5%. It is believed that the difference in toxicity between the virgin pellets and collected on the beach can be caused by high concentration of adsorbed contaminants on the surface of the pellets collected in the field. The results of this study suggest that beaches areas of coastal marine protection near urban areas and port areas have high risk of contamination by plastics. Although this beach has access restricted to humans, microplastics enter these beaches through the marine environment, potentially causing adverse effects on the local fauna of these environments due to your high toxicity. The information from this study contribute to a better understanding of the effects of contamination of coastal environments by microplastics, providing basic information for the development of public policies for management of this type of pollution in the areas of environmental protection.

The production and the usage of plastic material increases since the decade of 1950. Nowadays, the elevated production rate, the misusing and the waste turned plastic material in an urgent environmental and economic problem. One of the major environmental problems related to this issue is the contamination of marine environments by microplastics. These constitute plastic particles of size between 1 and 5 mm. Microplastics might occur by breaking of larger plastic pieces or as a manufactured product. The plastic pellets are among this second class, these are small plastic spherules (≥ 5 mm) used in the plastics industry as raw material for the production of manufactured products. It is hypothesized that plastic pellets reach the marine environment due to losses in port terminals or accidental and intentional releases by commercial ships. The present study evaluated the contamination of the coastal zone by microplastics in different spatial and temporal scales. This evaluation approached the dispersion of microplastics in coastal zones, and used the spatial distribution, the stranding and the accumulation of plastic pellets in sandy beaches as a proxy to disclose the behavior of the variation of microplastics in coastal zones. The results of the present paper reveal that microplastics vary both in small and large temporal and spatial scales. Therefore, the present paper brings new insights to the knowledge on microplastics pollution in coastal zones, which might give a new baseline to methodological approaches adopted in management and monitoring programs. / A produção e o consumo de plásticos vêm aumentando desde a década de 1950. Nos dias de hoje, a taxa elevada de produção, o mal-uso e o desperdício tornaram os plásticos em um problema ambiental e econômico urgente. Um dos principais problemas relacionados à esta questão é a poluição dos ambientes marinhos por microplásticos. Estes constituem partículas de plástico de tamanho que varia entre 1 e 5 mm. Microplásticos podem ocorrer em decorrência da quebra de pedaços de plásticos grandes ou podem ocorrer como um produto fabricado. Os grânulos de plástico estão nesta segunda categoria, estes são pequenas esférulas de plástico (≥ 5 mm) utilizadas como matéria prima para a produção de utensílios variados pela indústria dos plásticos. A hipótese é de que os grânulos de plástico cheguem ao ambiente marinho a partir de perdas em terminais portuários ou após liberações acidentais ou intencionais por embarcações comerciais. O presente estudo avaliou a contaminação da zona costeira por grânulos de plástico em diferentes escalas espaciais e temporais. Esta avaliação abordou a dispersão de microplásticos em regiões costeiras e utilizou a distribuição espacial o aporte e o acúmulo de grânulos de plástico como um modelo para desvendar o comportamento da variação de microplásticos em zonas costeiras. O presente estudo revelou que os microplásticos varia em escalas espaciais e temporais grandes e pequenas. Os resultados apresentados aqui podem conferir embasamento e questões metodológicas para serem adotadas em estratégias de monitoramento e gestão.

A estrutura da macrofauna bentônica no Canal de São Sebastião (CSS) foi estudada durante o verão e o inverno de 2005. Na região monitorada pelo Terminal Almirante Barroso (TEBAR) foram coletadas amostras de sedimento (pegador de fundo van Veen 0,03 m2) para as análises químicas e biológicas. As estações próximas ao emissário do TEBAR, emissário de esgotos municipais do Araçá e do Porto de São Sebastião apresentaram as maiores concentrações de matéria orgânica, metais e hidrocarbonetos. Além de uma alta complexidade e heterogeneidade, o padrão sedimentar mostrou que do sul para norte houve um aumento na contribuição de sedimentos mais grossos. As análises multivariadas mostraram que os organismos coletados estiveram relacionados às características sedimentares do canal. Ao norte, um ambiente de alta energia, ocorreram espécies predadoras e suspensívoras relacionadas aos sedimentos mais grossos, refletindo maior abundância, riqueza e diversidade. A região centro-norte apresentou sedimentos areno-lodosos com ocorrência de espécies onívoras. A região centro-sul, um ambiente de baixa energia, apresentou sedimentos mais lodosos que favoreceram a retenção de compostos orgânicos e inorgânicos, bem como a ocorrência de espécies oportunistas comedoras de depósito, resultando em baixa abundância, riqueza e diversidade. O padrão sedimentar (tamanho de grão), bem como as características relacionadas a ele (capacidade de adsorção a compostos orgânicos e inorgânicos) pareceram condicionar o padrão da estrutura macrozoobentônica no CSS. / A study of benthic macrofauna was carried out along the São Sebastião Channel (SSC) during summer and winter of 2005. Sediment samples were undertaken (van Veen grab 0.03 m2) to chemical and biological analysis, in an area influenced by anthropogenic activities. The stations nearby the Terminal Almirante Barroso (TEBAR) oil terminal, Araçá sewage system and São Sebastião harbor showed the highest concentrations of organic matter, metals and hydrocarbons. The sediment distribution was very complex and heterogeneous, with a northward grain size increasing. The organisms collected presented correlation to the SSC sedimentary characteristics. The north stations, a high energy system, were characterized by a coarse grain size bottom and carnivorous motile species, which reflected highest abundance, richness and diversity values. The center-north stations were muddy-sand bottom and omnivorous species were observed there. The center-south stations, which are influenced by a low hydrodynamic energy, were predominated by a muddy bottom, leading to a high retention of organic and inorganic compounds. In these stations were found opportunistic deposit feeders species resulting in low abundance, richness and diversity. The sedimentary pattern (i.e. grain size) as well as their characteristics (adsortion capacity) seems to determine the macrozoobenthic community pattern in SSC.