In July of 1993 an underground coal mine owned and operated by Southern Ohio coal company (SOCCO) underwent emergency recovery operations due to flash flooding of the mine from an adjacent abandoned mine. During mine dewatering operations, approximately 132,650 liters per minute of acid mine water was released into the Parker Run tributary draining into Leading Creek. The 24.2-km section of Leading Creek was heavily impacted eradicating most aquatic organisms. An acutely toxic impact resulted from the discharge of high conductivity (~6000µmhos), low pH (2.5-3.1 pH units), high metal concentrations (iron and iron floc, manganese, copper, nickel, zinc and aluminum, mg/L) and high total suspended solids (TSS). Through the process of a Consent Decree, a proactive plan was developed for monitoring the recovery in Leading Creek and to develop an enhancement plan for the watershed. SOCCO set aside $1.9 million that has grown to $2.5 million to cover the costs of implementing specific enhancement measures in the watershed. The primary goal of the enhancement plan was to describe actions that could reasonably be taken to affect measurable ecological rehabilitation or enhancement of the Leading Creek stream system so it attains the highest Ohio EPA aquatic life use designation possible. The objectives of this research project were to identify specific ecosystem stressors affecting the habitat quality within the watershed preventing Leading Creek from attaining either the Warmwater Habitat (WWH) or the Excellent Warmwater Habitat (EWH) designation and to provide potential remediation techniques to address the identified stressors. Although natural processes have lead to partial recovery in Leading Creek from the impact of dewatering, reconnaissance has shown significant problems relating to toxicity and habitat degradation in the watershed. Seventeen tributaries and ten mainstem stations were chosen to receive monthly monitoring as point source discharges, including biological, chemical, toxicological, and hydrological sampling. Specific ecotoxicological parameters studied included water and sediment quality, algal colonization upon artificial substrates, benthic macroinvertebrate sampling (qualitatively and quantitatively), acute water column toxicity, sediment chronic toxicity and </i>in situ</i> clam toxicity. Evaluation of habitat impairment included habitat assessments, in-stream riparian surveys and land use analysis. Through the analysis of laboratory and field data, agriculture and Abandoned Mined Land (AML) were identified as the two main stressors in the watershed. Agricultural practices contributed chronic toxicity through habitat degradation identified from benthic macroinvertebrate data and sediment depth measurements. AML impacted several tributaries and the Leading Creek mainstem by degrading water quality through the introduction of acidic waters, high in conductivity and heavy metals. Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) from the AML areas was pinpointed through acute testing with <i>Ceriodaphnia dubia</i> and </i>in situ</i> testing with the Asian clam, </i>Corbicula fluminea</i>. Active mining effluents from the Meigs #2 and Meigs #31 mines influenced the Ogden Run and Parker Run tributaries with conductivity values ranging from 2000 to 6000 μmhos/cm, respectively. The influence of the active mine effluents was observed down the mainstem from LCS6 to LCS10 in the form of high conductivity (~1200 μmhos/cm) and increased pH values (~8.0). Development of the enhancement plan began with the ranking of the ten mainstem stations and 17 tributary stations based on prioritization of impact parameters using an Ecotoxicological Rating (ETR) developed specifically for the Leading Creek watershed. The ETR included biological, toxicological, chemical and physical data to integrate a complete description of the impacts affecting the Leading Creek watershed. The 23 parameters in the ETR for the mainstem stations were; sediment depth, acidic pH, quantitative Invertebrate Community Index (ICI) scores, conductivity, clam <i>in situ</i> survival and growth, </i>Daphnia magna</i> and <i>Chironomus tentans</i> sediment toxicity, stormwater acute toxicity, qualitative invertebrate richness and Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) abundance, percent AML area, concentrations of sodium, copper, zinc, iron, manganese, chloride, nitrate/nitrite, ammonia, TSS, plus Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) habitat scores. For the mainstem stations, low flow in the summer was substituted for quantitative ICI scores. The ETR provided a single numerical score of 200 points that allowed comparisons to be made between sites within Leading Creek and tributaries within the watershed. Stressors identified within the watershed and used in the ranking of sites included agricultural sedimentation, sedimentation from AML, poor water quality from AMD and multiple toxic inputs such as acute stormwater runoff. Remediation techniques and costs were described to address poor agricultural practices and designed to alleviate sedimentation within the mainstem. Remediation techniques for AMD were described but due to the enormous amount of AML within the Leading Creek watershed, costs and specific projects were deemed beyond the scope of this research project. / Ph. D.

Emerging infectious diseases, pollution and climate change are associated with amphibian extinction events worldwide; however, direct causation is often obscured by the interactions of these stressors. Elucidating the possible synergies between metal contamination and disease is, therefore, critical in advancing our knowledge of the co-evolutionary mechanisms in host-pathogen systems and helping with the ability to better forecast the spread of diseases in metal-stressed environments. Additionally, increasing ecotoxicological research has improved our understanding of the complex influence trace metals may have on the physico-chemical nature of aquatic systems; however, the discrepancy in concentration-response within the toxicological literature makes it difficult to accurately define the range of toxicity, often due to the variability in media used in experimentation. The first chapter of this thesis reports an evaluation of copper, nickel and copper/nickel concentrations on several Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates [Rana] pipiens) larvae life history traits within field collected smelting effluent water. Overall, results indicated that copper had a stronger negative impact on survival than nickel. However, tadpoles exposed to copper displayed increased growth and developmental patterns while those exposed to nickel demonstrated opposing life history traits. These results indicate that tadpoles are displaying different fitness strategies, in terms of survival and life history, in the presence of increased copper and/or nickel stress.

The Clinch River, Virginia is known for high aquatic biodiversity, particularly Unionidae which are declining at remarkable rates. Studies conducted on the mainstem have only addressed effects of point-source stressors (various toxic spills and effluents from the Clinch River Plant (CRP), Carbo, Virginia) that have been introduced into the Clinch River. It is hypothesized that the tributaries of the Clinch River deliver a variety of stressors to the mainstem, which may affect the diverse fauna. The aquatic health of 19 upper Clinch River tributaries, Virginia, was assessed via ecotoxicological ratings that indicated the least healthy catchments were associated with mining activity (Dumps, Russell and Coal Creeks). Tributaries were categorized by land use and mining streams were significantly different from agricultural and forested streams (F = 9.63, p<0.0001). Tributaries with ecotoxicological ratings (ETR) <80 from 100 were deemed suboptimal and thus studied further. Using identical response variables and upstream and downstream sites, resulting ETRs for nine streams indicated no model significance regarding land use, year, or site. Variability within treatments and low sampling sizes contributed to lack of significance, and results indicate that future studies need to be designed incorporating sites with analogous land use stressors. This first assessment of upper Clinch River tributaries indicates the catchments requiring remediation are Dumps, Russell and Coal Creeks, while tributaries requiring extensive evaluations are Big, Lick, Swords, Big Spring, Guest River, Cavitts and Middle Creeks. Tributaries that were deemed healthy (ETRs >80) were Big Stony, Copper, Indian, Stock, Little River and Cove Creeks. / Master of Science

Acid mine drainage (AMD) results from the oxidation of pyretic mineralogy, exposed by mining operations to oxygen and water. This reaction produces sulfuric acid and liberates heavy metals from the surrounding mineralogy and impairs water quality and freshwater communities. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun an ecosystem restoration project to remediate the abandoned mine land (AML) impacts to the North Fork Powell River (NFP) and is utilizing the ecotoxicological rating (ETR) system to delineate these affects to focus restoration efforts. The ETR was developed to summarize the integrative data into a single number ranging from 0 to 100, which is descriptive of the environmental integrity of a sampling station. The ETR is conceptualized to work as an academic grading scale (0 through 100), rating reference stations with A's (90-100) and B's (80-89) and impacted stations with C's (70-80), D's (60-70) and failures (F = 60). Two rounds of ETR investigations have evaluated seven headwater tributaries to the NFP including investigations of Ely and Puckett's Creek from 1997 and 1998. This thesis contains the results of the second series of ETR investigations at 41 stations in Cox Creek, Jone's Creek, Reed's Creek, Summers Fork, Straight Creek, and areas in the NFP. Eight stations were recommended for reclamation; CC 03, JCRF2 02, JCRF2 01, RCPS 09B, RCPS 11B, SULF 01, SU 02, and SU 01. Summers Fork was the most severely impacted watershed of the second round of ETR investigations. An effort to streamline the ETR to the most ecologically predictive parameters was successful in creating a system more time and cost efficient then the initial ETRs and exclusive of benthic macroinvertebrate surveys. The Modified ETR streamlined the ETR to just 5 parameters including; mean conductivity, mean Asian clam survival, mean aluminum (Al) and manganese (Mn) in the water column, and mean habitat score to describe the AMD impacts to small headwater streams. Also, an investigation was conducted to determine the mode of toxicity, (i.e., exposures to metal contaminated surface waters or sediments) by which Al and iron (Fe) dominated AMD impairs benthic macroinvertebrate communities. It was found that water column exposures both within and beyond the zone of pH depression are the most likely mode by which AMD impairs the benthic macroinvertebrate communities of the NFP. / Master of Science

The aim of this diploma thesis is to explore the coagulation phase in water treatment process from two perspectives, the removal of cyanotoxin microcystin and the responses of ecotoxicological indicator species Daphnia magna to different concentration of this toxin, contained in a sample of cyanobacterial water bloom, which was extracted from a dam and was dominated by cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa. The sample was administered in three environmentally relevant concentrations to 6 clones of Daphnia magna, 3 of which had previous experience with M. aeruginosa. Coagulation process was performed under optimal conditions: pH = 6.36; KNK4,5 = 0.26 mmol.l-1 ; Fe = 0.162 mg.l-1 ; DOC = 2.83 mg.l-1 using 10 ml of 0.125M NaHCO3 in two litres of ultrapure water. Individual forms of microcystin were detected in this ratio: 31.6 % MC-LR, 53.6 % MC-RR and 14.8 % MC-YR. The study has shown that under these conditions coagulation does not remove microcystin, e.g. the efficiency of the process is zero. In ecotoxicological study, with growing concentration of cyanobacterial mixture the negative impact on Daphnia magna increased. We have found interclonal variability in responses of D. magna, however, the previous experience with M. aeruginosa had no effect. With growing concentration of cyanobacterial water...

O monitoramento de corpos hídricos receptores de efluentes pode ajudar na manutenção e conservação desses locais, pois os poluentes podem alterar o equilíbrio, a estrutura e o funcionamento do ecossistema. Neste aspecto, o estudo em sedimentos é importante ao permitir uma avaliação mais abrangente do ecossistema aquático, onde diferentes contaminantes podem estar associados ao sedimento em concentrações superiores às das águas, podendo resultar em impactos negativos à biota aquática, a depender da biodisponibilidade. A cidade de Cubatão abriga um dos maiores pólos industriais do Brasil, onde a descarga constante de efluentes industriais e domésticos no rio Cubatão e seus afluentes acabou ocasionando um panorama de degradação dos rios. A Bacia do Rio Cubatão esta localizada entre a Grande São Paulo e a Baixada Santista, com área de 177 km2, aproximadamente. O rio Cubatão é o principal rio da região, abastecendo as cidades de Cubatão, Santos, São Vicente e parte dos municípios de Praia Grande e Guarujá. Além do abastecimento de água para a população, o rio também abastece o pólo industrial de Cubatão. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar efeitos agudos e crônicos de amostras de água e de sedimento do rio Cubatão e dois de seus afluentes (Perequê e Pilões), por meio de ensaios ecotoxicológicos. Os organismos aquáticos empregados nos ensaios foram Ceriodaphnia dubia e Vibrio fischeri para avaliação de água e Hyalella azteca para avaliação de sedimento integral. A análise de crescimento corpóreo destes últimos também foi realizada. Além disso, foram realizadas Análises Químicas Instrumentais e Análise por Ativação Neutrônica em amostras de sedimentos. O estudo foi realizado entre 2010 e 2011, totalizando quatro campanhas. Foram coletadas amostras de água em nove pontos da Bacia do Rio Cubatão, e amostras de sedimento em seis pontos. Através dos ensaios realizados com V. fischeri pôde ser verificada toxicidade em todos os pontos amostrados com valores de CE(I)50 que variaram entre 31,25% e 71,61%. Os resultados obtidos com exposição de C. dubia não identificaram toxicidade, com base na análise estatística utilizada (Teste t por bioequivalência). Os ensaios de toxicidade para efeitos agudos do sedimento integral em H.azteca resultaram em toxicidade para as amostras de P2 e P5 (2ª e 4ª campanhas), com uma mortalidade superior a 50% dos organismos expostos. A análise de crescimento corpóreo identificou menor crescimento corpóreo nos organismos expostos ao sedimento coletado em P4 e P5. Com relação aos sedimentos coletados no ponto P5, os compostos endrin, dibenzeno(a,h)antraceno e antraceno ultrapassaram os valores recomendados pela Resolução Conama 344/04. Os resultados das Análises por Ativação Neutrônica evidenciaram maior contaminação por metais nos sedimentos originários de P5 e PI. / The monitoring of water quality on rivers where wastewaters are discharged may be important for the general conservation once many pollutants may alter the ecosystem balance, and life functioning. To study sediments contamination is an important tool that allows a more comprehensive assessment of the aquatic ecosystem, since many contaminants can be associated to the sediment in higher concentrations than in water and may result in negative impacts on aquatic biota. The Cubatão district is one of the largest industrial centers of Brazil. The usual discharge of industrial effluents and domestic sewage into Cubatão and its tributaries ended up causing serious waterways degradation. Cubatão River Basin is located between São Paulo and Baixada Santista (coast), covering approximately 177km2 area. Cubatão River as the main water source for the region, suppling water to Cubatão and its industrial area, and also to Santos, São Vicente and partially to Praia Grande and Guarujá municipalities. The objective of this study was to assess the toxicity for aquatic organisms concerning water and sediment sampled at Cubatão and at two tributaries (Perequê and Pilões). Chemical determinations were included in order to try identify the possible relation between biological effecs. Ceriodaphnia dubia and Vibrio fischeri were used for evaluation of water effects while Hyalella azteca were exposed to the sediments. Biometric analysis were performed on Hyalella azteca. Furthermore, chemical identification by Chromatography and Neutron Activation Analysis were carried out in sediment samples. Through V. fischeri toxicity response it could be noted signs of effects once the EC(I)50 ranged from 31.25% up to 71.61%. C. dubia results were negative to the same samples, based on statistical analysis (test \"t\" for bioequivalence).Through acute toxicity responses when H. azteca was exposed to sediments, toxicity was identified in samples from P2 and P5 (2nd and 4th campaigns): mortality exceeding 50% of exposed organisms. The biometric analysis for the H. azteca growth showed lower values for organisms exposed to sediments from P4 and P5. Chemical analysis evidenced endrin, dibenzo(a, h) anthracene and anthracene at sediments from P5, values which are not in accordance with the Conama 344/04; Neutron Activation Analysis showed high concentrations of metals for samples from the sites P5 and PI.

A degradação da qualidade do ar na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo (RMSP) bem como seus efeitos à saúde humana vem sendo estudados há algumas décadas. No entanto, pouco se sabe a respeito dos efeitos causados aos ambientes aquáticos e sua biota. A deposição atmosférica úmida é considerada como importante rota de remoção dos poluentes presentes na atmosfera terrestre. Desse modo, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a toxicidade de amostras de águas de chuva de dois locais, utilizando diferentes organismos-teste. As amostras foram coletadas no Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, município de São Paulo, e também no distrito de Taiaçupeba, pertencente ao município de Mogi das Cruzes, SP. As coletas foram realizadas manualmente, com recipientes com capacidade para 20L. Em seguida, as amostras foram levadas ao laboratório para medição de pH e condutividade, onde também foram fracionadas para os ensaios ecotoxicológicos e análise cromatográfica dos íons majoritários. Para as amostras coletadas no IPEN, foram realizados ensaios de toxicidade aguda com o microcrustáceo Daphnia similis e com a bactéria marinha luminescente Vibrio fischeri, além dos ensaios de toxicidade crônica com o microcrustáceo Ceriodaphnia dubia e com a alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. As amostras coletadas em Taiaçupeba foram testadas com os mesmos organismos-teste, com exceção da alga P. subcapitata. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho indicam que as amostras de águas de chuva dos dois locais foram capazes de provocar efeito tóxico aos organismos-teste expostos. Além disso, foi possível observar que as amostras coletadas IPEN durante o verão-08/09 apresentaram toxicidade mais elevada para D. similis, V. fischeri e C. dubia. Em relação às análises químicas, as maiores concentrações dos constituintes da amostras do IPEN foram nitrato, sulfato e amônio, indicando contaminação por fontes antropogênicas. Ao contrário, as análises químicas das amostras de Taiaçupeba indicaram menor concentração de poluentes em relação às amostras do IPEN. De maneira geral, os resultados das análises químicas convergiram com os resultados dos ensaios ecotoxicológicos para os dois locais. / The air quality degradation in Metropolitan Area of São Paulo (MASP) and also the effect to human health have been studied. However, little is known about the effects to aquatic environments and their biota. Wet atmospheric deposition is considered an important route of atmospheric pollutants removal. Thus, the aim of this work was evaluate the toxicity of rainwater samples from two sites, using different test-organisms. The samples were collected at Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, São Paulo city, and also in Taiaçupeba, part of Mogi das Cruzes city. The samples were collected manually, using 20L containers. After collection, the samples were taken to laboratory to measure pH values and electric conductivity, it were separated to ecotoxicological assays and chromatographic ionic analyze. The samples collected at IPEN were submitted to acute toxicity assay with microcrustacean Daphnia similis and luminescent marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri, and also to chronic toxicity assay with Ceriodaphnia dubia and green algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. The samples collected in Taiaçupeba were tested with the same test organisms, except P. subcapitata. Results obtained in this study indicate that rainwater samples from both sites were able to promote toxic effect to tested organisms. Furthemore, it was possible to observe that samples collected at IPEN during summer 08/09 presented high toxicity to D. similis, V. fischeri and C. dubia. The chemical analyzes showed that the highest concentrations of constituents of IPEN samples were nitrate, sulphate and ammonium, indicating contamination by anthropogenic sources. In contrast, chemical analyzes of Taiaçupeba indicated lower pollutants concentration than IPEN samples. Generally, chemical results corroborated with ecotoxicological results for the two sites.

A necessidade de se considerar o sedimento na análise da qualidade de corpos de água motivou a realização desse estudo, visando contribuir para o estabelecimento de protocolos de testes com o anfípoda Hyalellla, critérios para a avaliação da toxicidade de sedimentos de água doce e um quadro da situação atual das principais bacias do Estado de São Paulo, em termos ecotoxicológicos. Desta forma, inicialmente, foi comparada a sensibilidade de duas espécies de Hyalella, ou seja H. azteca e Hyalella sp., adotando diferentes substâncias e sedimentos. Também comparou-se a taxa de fecundidade e sobrevivência destas duas espécies em determinadas condições de cultivo. Após a escolha da espécie teste mais adequada, Hyalella azteca, foram avaliadas diferentes condições de cultivo (tipo e quantidade de alimento) e de ensaio (sistema estático e semi-estático, razão de sedimento e água 1:4 e 1:2, os critério de avaliação sobrevivência e crescimento) com amostras de sedimento, apresentando diferentes graus de contaminação. Esse estudo permitiu estabelecer uma condição de cultivo (100 organismos em recipientes com 2,5L de água natural ou reconstituída, a planta aquática Elódea como substrato e, como alimento, ração de coelho granulada mais uma solução de ração de peixe digerida, levedura e óleo de prímula). Esta condição permitiu obter um número médio de jovens/fêmea/semana de H. azteca de 9,2 com um desvio padrão de 2,7. Para avaliar a condição de ensaio que melhor representaria as do ambiente, os resultados dos testes de toxicidade com Hyalella azteca foram comparados com dados químicos e da comunidade bentônica, de amostras coletadas no mesmo local e data. Dessa forma verificou-se que a melhor condição de teste de toxicidade, com a duração de 10 dias, com H. azteca foi em sistema semi-estático com trocas de água a cada dois dias, adotando a razão de sedimento e água de 1:2 e avaliando a mortalidade e o crescimento. A partir desses dados, foram elaborados critérios que expressam classes de qualidade de sedimentos, ou seja: bom, quando o sedimento não apresentou toxicidade; regular, efeito sub-letal (redução do crescimento); ruim, mortalidade <50% e péssimo, mortalidade >=50%. Esse critério foi aplicado nos estudos realizados para avaliação da qualidade dos sedimentos em 12 das 22 das Unidades de Gerenciamento de Recursos Hídricos, para os quais foram compilados e selecionados dados ecotoxicológicos, além de químicos e da comunidade bentônica, quando disponíveis. A análise integrada desses resultados, utilizando classes de qualidade para as variáveis químicas, ecotoxicológicas e índices para a comunidade bentônica, permitiu estabelecer uma melhor avaliação da qualidade dos sedimentos. Além disso, verificou-se a importância de se integrar outros dados, como deformidade em Chironomus e teste de mutagenicidade, para se confirmar ou não a presença e estabelecer possíveis grupos de compostos, que poderiam estar causando impactos na comunidade de organismos que vivem no sedimento. A integração dessas diferentes linhas de evidências é que permitiu o estabelecimento do diagnóstico ou das análises a serem realizadas para se determinar o tipo de agentes estressores que possam estar presentes em um dado local em estudo. Portanto, testes de toxicidade se mostraram úteis e necessários na caracterização e em estudos para avaliar e identificar a qualidade de sedimentos, e devem ser adotados no monitoramento, junto com outras variáveis. / The need to include the sediment evaluation in the quality assessment of surface waters, motivated this study, in order to contribute to the establishment of testing protocols with the amphipod Hyalella, to toxicity evaluation criteria. It was also motivated by a lack of a survey of the São Paulo State freshwater quality sediment watersheds situation in terms of toxicity. Initially, the sensitivity of two Hyallela species, H. azteca and Hyalella sp. (previously named H. meinerti), were compared using different substances and sediment samples. The rates of fecundity and survival of these two species were compared in standardized culture conditions. After the selection of the most suitable species, Hyalella azteca, different culturing conditions (food type and quantity) and assays design (semi-static and static system, water/sediment ratio 1:2 and 1:4, evaluation criteria for survival and growth) were studied using sediment with different contamination levels. The best culturing conditions were: 100 organisms/2.5 liters of natural or reconstituted water; the aquatic plant Elodea as substrate and rabbit granulated food plus a mixture of digested fish food, yeast and primula oil. Adopting this culturing conditions it was possible to obtain 9.2 juvenile Hyalella azteca for each female/week with a standard error of 2.7 for around three months. In order to evaluate the best test conditions, the toxicity tests results were compared with chemical analysis and benthic community data. These results were obtained with samples collected in the same sites and at the same time. The analyses of the results showed that the best condition for 10 days exposition time was semi-static system with water exchange every two days, 1:2 sediment/water ratio and evaluation of mortality and growth as endpoints. Based in these results, a toxicity criteria that express sediment quality classes were elaborate. The classes established were: good, when the sediment was non toxic, regular when sublethal effect were observed (growth reduction), bad, when the mortality was less than 50% and extremely bad, when mortality was equal or greater than 50%. These criteria were applied to analyze toxicity data from different sediment quality studies performed in 12 from the 22 Freshwater Watershed Management Units of São Paulo State that were compiled and selected, using ecototoxicological, chemical and benthic community data when available. Only using sediment classes for these three variables it was possible to establish the sediment quality of the survey data. Other variables (benthic deformities and mutagenicity) were considered important to confirm, or not, the presence and establish the possible chemical groups that could be causing effects on benthic organisms. Only by the integration of these different evidence lines it was possible to define the sediment quality or which analyses should to be done in order to point out the stressor types that could be present at the studied sites. The conclusion was that toxicity tests with aquatic organisms are reliable and necessary for the quality evaluation and identification of toxicity of the sediments and should be used in monitoring studies together with other tools.

O monitoramento de corpos hídricos receptores de efluentes pode ajudar na manutenção e conservação desses locais, pois os poluentes podem alterar o equilíbrio, a estrutura e o funcionamento do ecossistema. Neste aspecto, o estudo em sedimentos é importante ao permitir uma avaliação mais abrangente do ecossistema aquático, onde diferentes contaminantes podem estar associados ao sedimento em concentrações superiores às das águas, podendo resultar em impactos negativos à biota aquática, a depender da biodisponibilidade. A cidade de Cubatão abriga um dos maiores pólos industriais do Brasil, onde a descarga constante de efluentes industriais e domésticos no rio Cubatão e seus afluentes acabou ocasionando um panorama de degradação dos rios. A Bacia do Rio Cubatão esta localizada entre a Grande São Paulo e a Baixada Santista, com área de 177 km2, aproximadamente. O rio Cubatão é o principal rio da região, abastecendo as cidades de Cubatão, Santos, São Vicente e parte dos municípios de Praia Grande e Guarujá. Além do abastecimento de água para a população, o rio também abastece o pólo industrial de Cubatão. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar efeitos agudos e crônicos de amostras de água e de sedimento do rio Cubatão e dois de seus afluentes (Perequê e Pilões), por meio de ensaios ecotoxicológicos. Os organismos aquáticos empregados nos ensaios foram Ceriodaphnia dubia e Vibrio fischeri para avaliação de água e Hyalella azteca para avaliação de sedimento integral. A análise de crescimento corpóreo destes últimos também foi realizada. Além disso, foram realizadas Análises Químicas Instrumentais e Análise por Ativação Neutrônica em amostras de sedimentos. O estudo foi realizado entre 2010 e 2011, totalizando quatro campanhas. Foram coletadas amostras de água em nove pontos da Bacia do Rio Cubatão, e amostras de sedimento em seis pontos. Através dos ensaios realizados com V. fischeri pôde ser verificada toxicidade em todos os pontos amostrados com valores de CE(I)50 que variaram entre 31,25% e 71,61%. Os resultados obtidos com exposição de C. dubia não identificaram toxicidade, com base na análise estatística utilizada (Teste t por bioequivalência). Os ensaios de toxicidade para efeitos agudos do sedimento integral em H.azteca resultaram em toxicidade para as amostras de P2 e P5 (2ª e 4ª campanhas), com uma mortalidade superior a 50% dos organismos expostos. A análise de crescimento corpóreo identificou menor crescimento corpóreo nos organismos expostos ao sedimento coletado em P4 e P5. Com relação aos sedimentos coletados no ponto P5, os compostos endrin, dibenzeno(a,h)antraceno e antraceno ultrapassaram os valores recomendados pela Resolução Conama 344/04. Os resultados das Análises por Ativação Neutrônica evidenciaram maior contaminação por metais nos sedimentos originários de P5 e PI. / The monitoring of water quality on rivers where wastewaters are discharged may be important for the general conservation once many pollutants may alter the ecosystem balance, and life functioning. To study sediments contamination is an important tool that allows a more comprehensive assessment of the aquatic ecosystem, since many contaminants can be associated to the sediment in higher concentrations than in water and may result in negative impacts on aquatic biota. The Cubatão district is one of the largest industrial centers of Brazil. The usual discharge of industrial effluents and domestic sewage into Cubatão and its tributaries ended up causing serious waterways degradation. Cubatão River Basin is located between São Paulo and Baixada Santista (coast), covering approximately 177km2 area. Cubatão River as the main water source for the region, suppling water to Cubatão and its industrial area, and also to Santos, São Vicente and partially to Praia Grande and Guarujá municipalities. The objective of this study was to assess the toxicity for aquatic organisms concerning water and sediment sampled at Cubatão and at two tributaries (Perequê and Pilões). Chemical determinations were included in order to try identify the possible relation between biological effecs. Ceriodaphnia dubia and Vibrio fischeri were used for evaluation of water effects while Hyalella azteca were exposed to the sediments. Biometric analysis were performed on Hyalella azteca. Furthermore, chemical identification by Chromatography and Neutron Activation Analysis were carried out in sediment samples. Through V. fischeri toxicity response it could be noted signs of effects once the EC(I)50 ranged from 31.25% up to 71.61%. C. dubia results were negative to the same samples, based on statistical analysis (test \"t\" for bioequivalence).Through acute toxicity responses when H. azteca was exposed to sediments, toxicity was identified in samples from P2 and P5 (2nd and 4th campaigns): mortality exceeding 50% of exposed organisms. The biometric analysis for the H. azteca growth showed lower values for organisms exposed to sediments from P4 and P5. Chemical analysis evidenced endrin, dibenzo(a, h) anthracene and anthracene at sediments from P5, values which are not in accordance with the Conama 344/04; Neutron Activation Analysis showed high concentrations of metals for samples from the sites P5 and PI.

A degradação da qualidade do ar na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo (RMSP) bem como seus efeitos à saúde humana vem sendo estudados há algumas décadas. No entanto, pouco se sabe a respeito dos efeitos causados aos ambientes aquáticos e sua biota. A deposição atmosférica úmida é considerada como importante rota de remoção dos poluentes presentes na atmosfera terrestre. Desse modo, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a toxicidade de amostras de águas de chuva de dois locais, utilizando diferentes organismos-teste. As amostras foram coletadas no Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, município de São Paulo, e também no distrito de Taiaçupeba, pertencente ao município de Mogi das Cruzes, SP. As coletas foram realizadas manualmente, com recipientes com capacidade para 20L. Em seguida, as amostras foram levadas ao laboratório para medição de pH e condutividade, onde também foram fracionadas para os ensaios ecotoxicológicos e análise cromatográfica dos íons majoritários. Para as amostras coletadas no IPEN, foram realizados ensaios de toxicidade aguda com o microcrustáceo Daphnia similis e com a bactéria marinha luminescente Vibrio fischeri, além dos ensaios de toxicidade crônica com o microcrustáceo Ceriodaphnia dubia e com a alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. As amostras coletadas em Taiaçupeba foram testadas com os mesmos organismos-teste, com exceção da alga P. subcapitata. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho indicam que as amostras de águas de chuva dos dois locais foram capazes de provocar efeito tóxico aos organismos-teste expostos. Além disso, foi possível observar que as amostras coletadas IPEN durante o verão-08/09 apresentaram toxicidade mais elevada para D. similis, V. fischeri e C. dubia. Em relação às análises químicas, as maiores concentrações dos constituintes da amostras do IPEN foram nitrato, sulfato e amônio, indicando contaminação por fontes antropogênicas. Ao contrário, as análises químicas das amostras de Taiaçupeba indicaram menor concentração de poluentes em relação às amostras do IPEN. De maneira geral, os resultados das análises químicas convergiram com os resultados dos ensaios ecotoxicológicos para os dois locais. / The air quality degradation in Metropolitan Area of São Paulo (MASP) and also the effect to human health have been studied. However, little is known about the effects to aquatic environments and their biota. Wet atmospheric deposition is considered an important route of atmospheric pollutants removal. Thus, the aim of this work was evaluate the toxicity of rainwater samples from two sites, using different test-organisms. The samples were collected at Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, São Paulo city, and also in Taiaçupeba, part of Mogi das Cruzes city. The samples were collected manually, using 20L containers. After collection, the samples were taken to laboratory to measure pH values and electric conductivity, it were separated to ecotoxicological assays and chromatographic ionic analyze. The samples collected at IPEN were submitted to acute toxicity assay with microcrustacean Daphnia similis and luminescent marine bacteria Vibrio fischeri, and also to chronic toxicity assay with Ceriodaphnia dubia and green algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. The samples collected in Taiaçupeba were tested with the same test organisms, except P. subcapitata. Results obtained in this study indicate that rainwater samples from both sites were able to promote toxic effect to tested organisms. Furthemore, it was possible to observe that samples collected at IPEN during summer 08/09 presented high toxicity to D. similis, V. fischeri and C. dubia. The chemical analyzes showed that the highest concentrations of constituents of IPEN samples were nitrate, sulphate and ammonium, indicating contamination by anthropogenic sources. In contrast, chemical analyzes of Taiaçupeba indicated lower pollutants concentration than IPEN samples. Generally, chemical results corroborated with ecotoxicological results for the two sites.