Using rapid assessment of marine pollution (RAMP) techniques to assess the quality of marine sediments

Authors

  • Denis Moledo de Souza Abessa Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Campus Litoral Paulista, São Vicente, SP, Brazil
  • Márcia Caruso Bícego Instituto Oceanográfico (IO), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
  • Eduinetty Ceci Pereira Moreira de Sousa Instituto Oceanográfico (IO), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
  • Leticia Pires Zaroni Instituto Oceanográfico (IO), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil ; Zaroni & Frazão. Oceanografia e Meio Ambiente, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
  • Bauer Rodarte de Figueredo Rachid Instituto Oceanográfico (IO), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil ; BR Ambiental, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
  • Elisabet Cornet Arnalot Instituto Oceanográfico (IO), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil ; Instituto de Investigação das Pescas e do Mar, Lisboa, Portugal
  • Gilberto Fillmann Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Instituto de Oceanografia, Rio Grande, RS, Brazil
  • James Readman Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth, UK
  • Michael Depledge European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Truro, Cornwall, UK

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5132/eec.2018.02.12

Keywords:

coastal zone, contamination, toxicity, neutral red retention time, biomonitoring, early warning

Abstract

Sediments represent an important environmental compartment, because they provide substrate for a range of species and may accumulate contaminants in high concentrations. However, the universe of methods to assess the quality of sediments is still small. This investigation aimed to assess the quality of sediments from some sites of Ubatuba (SE Brazil). To achieve that, sediments were analyzed for the presence of PAHs, by immunoassay ELISA kit for the carcinogenic PAH (c-PAH) RaPID Assay, and for toxicity to amphipods, sea-urchin embryos and direct exposure of mussel hemocytes and measurements of the nuetral red retention time (NRTT). Results showed higher levels of PAHs in sediments from Itagua and Ribeira, those more intensely affected by contamination sources. The ecotoxicological analyses indicated these two sites as more degraded, together with the sediments from Lamberto Beach, which is also influenced by nautical activities. The NRRT correlated with the quantities of PAHs in sediments. We concluded that Ribeira Bay and Itaguá Beach need more detailed investigation on pollution and that the NRRT assay exposing directly hemocytes to sediment elutriates can be a useful tool to assessing sediment quality.

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Published

13-07-2018

How to Cite

Abessa, D. M. de S., Bícego, M. C., Sousa, E. C. P. M. de, Zaroni, L. P., Rachid, B. R. de F., Arnalot, E. C., Fillmann, G., Readman, J., & Depledge, M. (2018). Using rapid assessment of marine pollution (RAMP) techniques to assess the quality of marine sediments. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Contamination, 13(2), 99–106. https://doi.org/10.5132/eec.2018.02.12

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