Integrating real-time monitoring and ecotoxicology using a neotropical stream as a study case

Abstract

This study pioneers the evaluation of toxicity in the Coromandel stream, located in the southeastern region of Brazil, highlighting the essential role of ecotoxicology in informing environmental management decisions. We employed bioindicators to assess the water quality across multiple collection points along the stream, focusing on its physical, chemical, and ecotoxicological characteristics. The investigation utilized Allium cepa seeds and Dendrocephalus brasiliensis nauplii to conduct acute ecotoxicological tests, examining cytotoxic and genotoxic effects, including the mitotic index and micronuclei frequency for A. cepa and immobility rates for D. brasiliensis. Our findings reveal significant pollution impacts, particularly in areas affected by residential and industrial activities, where increased immobility in D. brasiliensis and heightened genotoxic potential were observed. These outcomes indicate deteriorating water quality and underscore the urgency for targeted environmental interventions. Real-time monitoring further identified critical alterations in water parameters, underscoring the stream sections with significant anthropogenic influence as hotspots for pollution and toxic risk. This research underscores the importance of integrated ecotoxicological assessments in detecting and addressing environmental threats in freshwater ecosystems.