Italo Braga Castro

Universidade Federal de São Paulo | UNIFESP · Instituto do Mar

Imposex incidence, organotin tissue levels, and sex steroid (free and esterified testosterone and estradiol) levels were assessed in Stramonita haemastoma from Babitonga Bay (Santa Catarina State, Southern Brazil). The imposex levels showed a reduction when compared to a previous evaluation performed in the same area. In spite of that, the detected...

BTs, PAHs, OCPs and PCBs were assessed in a mid-latitude environment of the Patagonian coast, distant from important pollutant sources. Bioaccumulation processes through bottom sediment re-suspension were suggested by BTs level found in surface sediment (<LOD-166.5 ng (Sn) g(-1) dw) and bivalve mollusks (29.4-206.0 ng (Sn) g(-1) dw); while imposex...

Tributyltin (TBT) contamination is still recorded in the environment even after its ban in antifouling paints. Since most biomonitors of TBT contamination, through imposex evaluation, are hard-bottom gastropods, the identification of soft-bottom sentinels has become useful for regions where rocky shores and coral reefs are absent. Thus, an evaluati...

Praia do Perequê is located in the city of Guarujá (SP) and presents a situation of severe socio-environmental impacts directly linked to tourism and navigation activities. This research aimed to assess environmental perception, pro-environmental behaviours and quality of life of the caiçara community living in this region. Adult and elderly reside...

Microplastic pollution is becoming a continuously growing environmental concern, while bivalve mollusks are particularly vulnerable due to their sessile habits and feeding through water filtration processes. Microplastic incidence in soft tissues of the clam Amarilladesma mactroides was assessed along unconsolidated substrates distributed in ext...

The contamination of coastal ecosystems by personal protective equipment (PPE) emerged as a significant concern immediately following the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). Hence, numerous studies have assessed PPE occurrence on beaches worldwide. However, no predictors on PPE contamination was so far point...

Microplastics (MPs) accumulation in rocky shore organisms has limited knowledge. This study investigated MPs accumulation in filter-feeding oysters, herbivorous limpets and carnivorous snails to assess their performance as sentinel species in the MPs trophic transfer. The samples were obtained along a contamination gradient in the Santos Estuarine...

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a reduction in human mobility, known as “anthropause.” Few studies have compared birds’ community patterns between lockdown and “new normal” periods, especially in extremophile environments. This study presents the first baseline by monitoring coastal birds on 10 beaches along the largest hypersaline lagoon in South...

La estructura poblacional y condición somática de gastrópodos intermareales puede ser afectada por el grado de exposición al oleaje en litorales rocosos. Se estudió la influencia de exposición a las olas, la temporalidad climática en las tallas y la condición somática de dos especies de neogastrópodos intermareales (Plicopurpura patula y Vasula del...

The contamination of mangroves by anthropogenic litter has increased in recent decades. Notably, Brazil occupies a prominent status within Latin America, boasting the second-largest mangrove areas globally. In Santos-São Vicente Estuarine System (SESS), mangroves coexist with a preeminent port complex and substantial urbanization rates. Nevertheles...

Cigarette butts (CB) are the most common type of beach litter worldwide and contain a complex mixture of chemicals in their composition. Given the recent interest in this emerging problem, it is important to assess the toxicity of CB leachates to a range of species from different regions, sensitivities, and ecological traits. In this study, the wat...

This study identified the marine protected areas (MPAs) affected by the most extensive oil spill recorded on the Southwestern Atlantic coast, Brazil (2019/2020). We found that 81 MPAs suffered the direct or indirect effects of spilled oil, producing chemical, biological and socioenvironmental impacts over approximately 3.0% of the 2,659 protected a...

Indicators proposed for nutrient and pesticide pollution in the current text of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) are inadequate for tracking progress and informing policy. We highlight a set of more relevant pollution indicators that would strengthen the monitoring framework of the GBF and discu...

Replacing single-use plastic with so-called biodegradable ones have emerged as part of suitable actions to reduce global environmental impacts. However, issues related to false claims and improper certification of single-use plastic utensils (SUP) claiming biodegradability have been reported in scientific literature. Still, greenwashing incidences...

Marine litter is a complex environmental issue threatening the well-being of multiple organisms. In the present study, we present an overlooked pathway by which marine litter interaction with certain ovigerous skates (Family: Rajidae) communities could compromise their survival. We propose that skates from the genus Sympterygia deposit their egg ca...

Organotin-based (OTs: TBT and TPT) antifouling paints have been banned worldwide, but recent inputs have been detected in tropical coastal areas. However, there is a lack of studies evaluating the toxicity of both legacy and their substitute antifouling booster biocides (e.g., Irgarol and diuron) on neotropical species. Therefore, the acute toxicit...

Cigarette butts (CB) are the most common litter on beaches worldwide and their incorrect disposal may lead to contamination by many toxic substances. Once in water, CB can release contaminants generated by both manufacturing and burning of cigarettes, which can have their toxic potential increased. A relevant issue is the lack of guidelines for CB...

Filter-feeder organisms such as oyster and mussels are exposed to particles like microplastics (MPs). Although widely used to monitor MPs contamination, little is known about their performance as sentinels, which are biological monitors accumulating contaminants without significant adverse effects. This study comparatively evaluated the quantitativ...

This review summarized booster biocides studies from Latin America and the Caribbean during the last two decades. Studies were focused on six countries, with most of them in Brazil. In water and sediment, diuron and Irgarol were the most abundant and frequent biocides, probably due to their former intense use. Antifouling paint particles were also...

Brazil is one of the countries most impacted along the entire coastline by the presence of tributyltin (TBT), a biocide used in antifouling paints. Despite being banned since 2008, its use is still registered in the country, and it is possible to find recent inputs of this substance in places under the influence of shipyards, marinas, and fishing p...

Chlorothalonil is an organochlorine compound that has long been used in agriculture. In recent years, this compound has been used as an antifouling booster biocide and its presence has been reported in marine coastal environments, especially in navigational areas. Although sediment can be a sink for chlorothalonil due to high affinity to fine parti...

Microplastics (MPs) become ubiquitous contaminants in Marine Protected Areas (MPA) that have been planned as a conservation strategy. The present study provides a comprehensive overview of the occurrence, abundance, and distribution of MPs potentially affecting MPA worldwide. Data on MP occurrence and levels in sediment and biota samples were colle...

Despite the relatively rich literature on the omnipresence of microplastics in marine environments, the current status and ecological impacts of microplastics on global Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are still unknown. Their ubiquitous occurrence, increasing volume, and ecotoxicological effects have made microplastic an emerging marine pollutant. Gi...

Among global efforts facing plastic pollution, their gradual replacement with alternative materials has gained strength during the last decade. We identified five stakeholders and their respective key participation in the chain of bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics (BBCP), which have contributed to several flaws on governance of thes...

The occurrence of emerging contaminants (ECs) in the aquatic systems under influence of urban areas have been considered as an environmental marker of anthropogenic contamination. In this study 10 ECs were investigated in sediment samples from Santos Bay using a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method with determination by liquid chr...

Morphological, structural and compositional alterations in shells of molluscs have been proposed as putative biomarkers of chemical contamination in coastal zones. Despite this, few studies were carried out using top predator gastropods which tend to be more susceptible to contamination exposure. Thus, the present study assessed disturbances on she...

Since seafood is considered an important source of organotin compounds (OTCs), the present study assessed the potential risk to human health of ingesting butyltins (BTs) and phenyltins (PhTs) along with this type of food. Seafood samples were collected at five fishing sites in the Yucatán Peninsula (Mexico) during February and March 2018. In genera...

Environmental impacts are currently linked to smoking cigarette behavior, as cigarette butts (CBs) represent the most common litter item in natural areas. Despite this, even the best ranked Brazilian cities, in terms of urban cleaning, have no information about urban littered CBs. Thus, CBs were monitored in Santos and Niterói cities, aiming to ass...

Alterations in mollusc shells have been proposed contamination biomarkers. We used geometric morphometrics analyses associated with analytical determinations of contaminants to select suitable biological models among species widely distributed on coastal zones. The study was carried out using Lottia subrugosa (herbivore limpet), Crassostrea brasili...

Beaches in the Anthropocene carry the heavy burden of human-derived pollution, like that induced by plastic litter. For decades, plastic debris has been classified based on its source or physical size. In recent years, studies described and documented new forms of plastic formations, including plastiglomerates, plasticrusts, and pyroplas-tics. Howe...

Antifouling paints incorporate biocides in their composition seeking to avoid or minimize the settlement and growing of undesirable fouling organisms. Therefore, biocides are released into the aquatic environments also affecting several nontar-get organisms and, thus, compromising ecosystems. Despite global efforts to investigate the environmental...

The Aegean Sea is one of the most contaminated by marine litter (ML) in the World. In this study, the Turkish Aegean Region was evaluated in light of the sources, abundance and composition of ML along Çakalburnu Lagoon coast. Macroscopic ML with > 3 cm was collected and separated into composition and sources categories. ML abundance was calculated...

This article presents a synthesis of information about the massive oil spill in Brazil (2019/2020). The event affected 11 states; however, the majority of the oil residue was collected (~ 5380 tons) near nine states (99.8%) in northeastern Brazil. This spill was not the largest in volume (between 5000 m 3 and 12,000 m 3) recorded in tropical oceans...

This study aimed to report personal protective equipment (PPE) contamination in Santos beaches (Brazil) using standardized procedures for the first time while comparing two periods to understand the progression of PPE contamination. The occurrence of PPE items was ubiquitous in all sampled sites, although the densities were relatively low compared...

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Natural pH values in coastal waters vary largely among locations, ecosystems, and time periods; still, there is an ongoing acidification trend. In this scenario, more acidic pH values can alter bioavailability of organic contaminants, to organisms. Despite this, interactive effects between pH and chemical substances are not usually considered in Ec...

Since seafood is considered the main source of organotin compounds (OTCs, the present study assessed the potential risk to human health of ingesting butyltins (BTs) and phenyltins (PhTs). Seafood samples were collected at five fishing sites in the Yucatán Peninsula during February and March 2018. In general, organotins were detected in all samples,...

Despite the efforts of the International Marine Organization (IMO), through the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Antifouling Systems on Ships to ban the use of TBT-based antifouling paints (September 2008), and the Rotterdam Convention (RC) to forbid the trade of tributyltin (TBT), the situation does not seem to have significantly...

Antifouling paints incorporate biocides in their composition seeking to avoid or minimize the settlement and growing of undesirable fouling organisms. Therefore, biocides are released into the aquatic environments also affecting several non-target organisms and, thus, compromising ecosystems. Despite global efforts to investigate the environment oc...

Nucella lapillus imposex has been monitored in Ria de Aveiro (Portugal) in order to understand the evolution of organotin (OT) pollution after the EU ban on OT-based antifouling systems (OT-AFS). A rapid decrease of imposex occurred, but a ountercurrent tendency upsurged recently (2018–2019) with a slight increase of imposex at some sites, instead...

Organotin (OT) based Antifouling Systems (AFS) were globally banned by the AFS Convention since 2008, but the Republic of Cabo Verde did not ratify this Convention, nor did it develop a national legislation to control OT-AFS. Gemophos viverratus imposex and butyltin tissue contamination were assessed around the São Vicente Island (Cabo Verde) in 20...

Cigarette butts (CBs) comprise one of the most relevant categories of marine litter worldwide. This study was structured as a case study simultaneously assessing (i) the occurrence of CBs in a highly urbanized coastal area, (ii) their partitioning in two environmental compartments (water column and sediments) by laboratory settling tests, and (iii)...

Anthropogenic litter (AL) distribution was assessed on beaches presenting different levels of urban occupation at Santos Estuarine System. Plastics and cigarette butts were the items most found at sampling sites. Plastic items sub-categories, such as cotton buds, lids, microcentrifuge tubes, pellets, and polystyrene foam, presented sources related...

Products coal tar-based are largely used as concrete structures as protective coatings but some questions about leaching and potential toxic effects remain unclear. A laboratory experiment exposing oysters to miniaturized concrete pillars painted with Lackpoxi N1761 over time was performed and trace elements and 17 PAH were monitored in seawater ex...

Since 2013, there has been an increase (>23%) in naval traffic using maritime routes and ports on the coastal fringe of Santa Marta, Colombia. Of major concern, and described by several studies, is the relationship between maritime traffic and coastal contamination. This study proposed a maritime traffic indicator considering the simultaneous effec...

While the use of biodegradable polyme rs is recognized as a global strategy to minimize plastic pollution, the tech nical standards (TS) used to attest their biodegradability ma y not be in compliance with most environ-me ntal parame ters observed aquatic ecosystems. Indeed, through a careful assessme nt of the TS cu rrently in use, this stud y evi...

The contamination by antifouling biocide residues (booster biocides-diuron, Irgarol, chlorothalonil, dichlo-fluanid and DCOIT; butyltin compounds-BTs (TBT, DBT and MBT); and antifouling paint particles-APPs) was appraised in sediments of Vitoria Estuarine System (VES). Even at its historical lower (ΣBTs ≤113 ng Sn g − 1 dry wt), the current environ...

Spatial distribution of Butyltins (BTs) in surface sediments and gastropod tissues were quantified, with samples taken from an estuarine system of the Eastern Amazon, Brazil. The imposex incidence was also assessed using Thaisella coronata (Gastropoda, Mollusca). The sediment sampling was carried out at 19 sites and T. coronata in 6 of those. The h...

Composto Triorganoestânicos

Sediment dredging impacts coastal environments by promoting the resuspension of fine particles and remobi-lization of contaminants that may trigger toxic effects. In this study, we evaluated the sediment quality in harbor areas of Mucuripe bay, a semi-arid ecosystem located in Ceará state (Brazil), which is subject to dredging activities. A samplin...

Studies have shown that shell morphology and enzymatic activities in mollusks are affected by contaminants exposure. However, the correlation between enzymatic activities and the biomineralization process are not fully understood. The present study used a transplant bioassay and field sampling to evaluate shell measurements and the activities of ca...

Seasonal distribution of Marine Litter (ML) on Santos beaches was assessed using a citizen science strategy. Plastics and cigarette butts (CB) were the dominant items in all sampling campaigns. Seasonal distribution did not result in significant differences for most items. Plastic and CB amounts were high in summer compared to autumn. For all sampl...

Anthropogenic changes such as ocean acidification, eutrophication, and the release of hazardous chemicals affect coastal environments and aquatic organisms. We investigated the effects of seawater pH (7.4 and 8.2) isolated and in combination with Irgarol on Ulva lactuca. Stress indicators such as membrane damage, lipid peroxidation, and hydrogen pe...

The present study is a literature-based analysis investigating occurrence and the possible consequences of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in marine protected areas (MPAs) of Latin America and Caribbean. The approach using overlapping of georeferenced MPA polygons with data compiled from peer-reviewed literature, published during the last 15...

Imposex is a phenomenon widely associated with environmental exposure to organotin compounds which were quite common components of antifouling paints applied on boats and ship hulls. Here we study the incidence of imposex in neogastropods and its relation with water quality and maritime traffic in the coastal strip of Santa Marta, Colombia. Imposex...

Protected areas (PAs) are dedicated and managed to achieve long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values. However, few studies have assessed contamination/pollution, one of the top five biodiversity threats, within these areas. In fact, more than 100,000 molecules used in consumer goods are potentially affe...

In the present study, levels of booster biocides (diuron, Irgarol, chlorothalonil, dichlofluanid and DCOIT), bu-tyltin compounds (TBT, DBT and MBT) and antifouling paint particles (APPs) were assessed in sediments of areas under the influence of the largest Latin American port, marinas, boat traffic and ship/boat maintenance facilities located with...

Recent changes in pesticide regulations in Brazil may have public health and environmental ramifications for Brazil and its trade partners. Crosscountry cooperation is key to upholding food safety.

Effects of contamination on aquatic organisms have been investigated and employed as biomarkers in environmental quality assessment for years. A commonly referenced aquatic organism, mollusks represent a group of major interest in toxicological studies. Both gastropods and bivalves have external mineral shells that protects their soft tissue from p...

Despite the fact that the occurrence of emerging contaminants in the environment has become frequent in recent decades, the seasonal dynamics of contaminants in different environmental compartments are little studied in protected areas influenced by effluent discharges. In this study, the seasonal and spatial occurrence of 33 pharmaceuticals and pe...

Mollusk shells can provide important information regarding environmental parameters. It is known that shell morphology is affected by both natural and anthropogenic factors. However, few studies have investigated alterations in shell morphology over a historical perspective and considering chemical contamination and climate changes. The present stu...

Molluscs have been widely used in biomonitoring of aquatic environments because they are highly sensitive to hazardous chemical substances and have the capacity to express the history of environmental changes in their shells. Mollusc shells have biomolecules playing an essential role in the biomineralization process, which are also susceptible to e...

Plastic pollution is a global environmental concern and several approaches have been implemented seeking to reduce and control releases of plastic waste, especially in marine environments. Recently, disclosure of data on occurrence of single-use plastic straws among the litter collected in beach cleaning campaigns unleashed a worldwide movement tha...

Studies which showed the influence of organic carbon on the toxicity of 25 sediment-associated contaminants on benthic invertebrates suggest this was primarily 26 due to its influence on the interstitial water concentrations of the contaminant. A higher 27 organic content offers more binding sites for organic contaminants, which means lower 28 toxi...

Arsenic (As) can contaminate air, soil, water, and organisms through mobilization of natural mineralogical deposits or anthropogenic actions. Inorganic‐As compounds are more toxic and widely available in aquatic environments, including drinking water reservoir catchments. Since little is known about its effects on prepubertal mammals, the present s...

Antifouling paint particles (APPs) are residues generated primarily during maintenance of vessels and marine structures, and usually occur in boat maintenance areas that are adjacent to aquatic environments, such as estuaries. APPs end up in sediment layers after their release into aquatic systems and represent a threat to benthic invertebrates, wh...

Pollution of coastal areas play an important role in anthropocentric issues. Thus, several analytical tools were developed and optimized in recent years aiming to improve the acquisition of good quality chemical data. Despite these efforts, assessments of the environmental occurrence of hazardous chemicals in coastal regions are often biased by poo...

Estrogen levels were assessed in surface sediments from one of the most industrialized and urbanized estuarine systems in Latin America (SSES, Santos and São Vicente estuarine system). Estriol (E3) presented quantifiable levels in all sampled sites, ranging from 20.9 ng g−1 to 694.2 ng g−1. 17β-estradiol (E2) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) were als...

The present study evaluated the association among traditional biochemical biomarkers with biometric, mor-phometric, and elemental composition of Lottia subrugosa (patelliform gastropod) shells from three multi-im-pacted coastal areas in Brazil. The study was carried out in Todos os Santos Bay (TSB), Santos/São Vicente Estuarine System (SESS) and Pa...

Imposex responses were comparatively assessed in Thaisella chocolata and Xanthochorus buxeus, in sites previously studied regarding TBT contamination and under the influence of various levels of ship/boat activities in a coastal zone of Peru. In August 2015, at least 60 adult specimens of both T. chocolata and X. buxeus were simultaneously sampled...

For the first time, juvenile toxicity of inorganic arsenic (As) was investigated in male rats, focusing on reproductive effects. As is a metalloid naturally occurring in the environment, being the inorganic forms the most toxics. Contaminated drinking water and agricultural products are the main prospectors of intoxication for general population. I...

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a contaminação por diclofluanida, clorotalonil, diuron, irgarol e DCOIT em amostras de sedimentos superficiais de áreas sob a influência de marinas e estaleiros no sistema estuarino de Santos e São Vicente (SESS) – SP.

Through controlled exposure to tributyltin (TBT), the effects of season, size, and population origin were evaluated on imposex incidence in Stramonita brasiliensis. Four experiments were carried out with organisms collected from three different sites on the Brazilian coast (Torres - Rio Grande do Sul, Farol de Santa Marta - Santa Catarina, and Arac...

Tributyltin (TBT) environmental concentrations as well as imposex levels have been declining in several coastal areas worldwide. However, recent studies have shown that TBT contamination is still an important issue along some Latin American coastal areas. Thus, the incidence of imposex and butyltin compounds (BTs) in sediments and gastropod tissues...

Sources, occurrence, composition and dynamics of antifouling paint particles (APPs) were assessed in Patos Lagoon estuary (PLE), Southern Brazil. Ten areas including boatyards, a marina and artisanal fishing harbors were identified in the estuarine system as potential sources of APPs. The APPs generated in these areas were highly heterogeneous cons...

This paper reports the development of an analytical method employing vortex-assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) for the extraction of diuron, Irgarol 1051, TCMTB (2-thiocyanomethylthiobenzothiazole), DCOIT (4,5-dichloro-2-n-octyl-3-(2H)-isothiazolin-3-one), and dichlofluanid from sediment samples. Separation and determination were perform...

Butyltin compounds (BTs) were used worldwide, especially because of their properties as biocides. Due to its high toxicity, the use of tributyltin (TBT) in antifouling paints has been prohibited in most countries. The occurrence and impact of BTs were assessed in surface sediments and in Stramonita rustica populations of two tropical estuaries that...

Antifouling biocides in surface sediments and gastropod tissues were assessed for the first time along coastal areas of Panama under the influence of maritime activities, including one of the world's busiest shipping zones: the Panama Canal. Imposex incidence was also evaluated in five muricid species distributed along six coastal areas of Panama....

Antifouling paint particles (APPs) are residues generated during maintenance of vessels. In boat maintenance areas of South America, waste generation and disposal are not completely regulated. Therefore, APPs can enter into the aquatic environment and act as a source of contamination by metals and other biocides. Thus, the aim of the present study...

An integrated environmental assessment of imposex and butyltin (BT) contamination was done using surface sediments and tissues of Thaisella chocolata (an edible gastropod) from northern Chile. Exceptionally high contamination levels and evidences of fresh inputs of tributyltin (TBT) were detected along the studied area. In addition, high levels of...

This study aimed to evaluate the matrix effect associated to Irgarol 1051, diuron, DCOIT and TCMTB on estuarine sediment samples from Rio Grande (RG) and Santos (ST), Brazil.

During the last years, shell alterations in gastropods have been proposed as tools to be used in monitoring programs. However, no studies were so far performed investigating the relationships among shell parameters and classical biomarkers of damage. The relationship between shell alterations (biometrics, shape and elemental composition) and biomar...

Antifouling paint particles (APPs) are generated during periodical maintenance of boat hulls. Chemical composition and toxicity (either chronic or acute) of APPs found in the sediment was evaluated using the epibenthic copepod Nitokra sp. The APPs analyzed showed the presence of high levels of metals such as Cu (234,247 ± 268 μg g⁻¹), Zn (112,404 ±...