Environmental and Sanitary Conditions of Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro

Guanabara Bay, the second-largest bay in Brazil, faces severe environmental and sanitary degradation due to decades of anthropogenic impacts, particularly from industrialization since 1930. The study highlights critical issues such as heavy eutrophication, which fosters harmful algal blooms dominated by flagellated and mixotrophic species, and the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms like vibrios and KPC-producing bacteria. These pathogens, often linked to domestic or hospital waste, pose significant risks to both aquatic ecosystems and human health, with antibiotic resistance genes widespread in bay plankton. The decline in fish stocks and a recent large-scale fish kill underscore the bay's deteriorating water quality. Despite these challenges, restoration efforts accelerated by the 2016 Olympic Games offer potential for recovery, making Guanabara Bay a focal point for environmental legacy.

Fistarol, G. O., Coutinho, F. H., Moreira, A. P. B., Venas, T., Cánovas, A., de Paula, S. E. M., Coutinho, R., de Moura, R. L., Valentin, J. L., Tenenbaum, D. R., Paranhos, R., do Valle, R. d. A. B., Vicente, A. C. P., Amado Filho, G. M., Pereira, R. C., Kruger, R., Rezende, C. E., Thompson, C. C., Salomon, P. S., & Thompson, F. L. (2015). Environmental and Sanitary Conditions of Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro. Frontiers in Microbiology, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2015.01232