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Historical Analysis of Environmental Pollution in Santos Estuary: Histological Study of Mytella falcata (Orbigny, 1846) Gills as Bioindicator

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Abstract

Historically, the Santos estuary illustrated a scenario of pollution and environmental catastrophes. In 1980, it was called the Vale da Morte (Death Valley), after the public resonance and mitigation measures became a model of environmental recovery. This study aims at assessing the ecosystem health of Santos estuary using Mytella falcata bivalve as bioindicator, and histopathology as biomarker. Bivalves were collected at three sample sites: Site A, located in Branco River with no industrial impact; Sites B, located in Barnabé Island, at the left bank of Santos Port; Site C, located next to Companhia Siderúrgica Paulista, in direct contact with industrial effluents. The collected animals had their gills dissected, fixed, and processed according to the histological routine. The tissue sections were dyed with hematoxylin and eosin to identify morphological changes. To analyze the slides, we used a disorder classification system and frequency index assignment to quantify the disorders observed. For the statistical background, tests of normality and of significant difference among the sample sites were performed. Results showed severe disorders in organisms from Sites B and C, such as tumors; however, the Site B revealed more expressive complications, such as necrosis. In contrast, Site A presented only mild disorders, such as infiltration. By analyzing the results and comparing environmental data, it is possible to affirm that the pollution status on the Santos estuary remains similar to the last histopathology study published, approximately 10 years ago, pointing out high concentrations of contaminants that directly affect the ecosystem and the organisms’ health.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the CNPq that provided a scholarship during 2018–2019 to carry out the scientific initiation project that culminated in the preparation of the present article.

Funding

The present study was supported by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) with a scientific initiation scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Ciências da Natureza, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rodovia Lauri Simões de Barros, km 12, SP-189, Buri, SP, 18290-000, Brazil

    Maristela Lino Candido Cassita & José Augusto de Oliveira David

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  1. Maristela Lino Candido Cassita
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  2. José Augusto de Oliveira David
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Contributions

Maristela Cassita: conceptualization, methodology, analysis, writing (first manuscript, review, and editing), funding acquisition. José David: supervision, conceptualization, methodology, analysis, writing (review and editing), funding acquisition. All authors read, reviewed, and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Maristela Lino Candido Cassita.

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Cassita, M.L.C., de Oliveira David, J.A. Historical Analysis of Environmental Pollution in Santos Estuary: Histological Study of Mytella falcata (Orbigny, 1846) Gills as Bioindicator. Water Air Soil Pollut 233, 95 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-022-05525-9

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