Preliminary Study by Environmental Indicator Measurements of Sediments in a Mangrove Forest in Ilha Grande Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil

A preliminary study on sediments from Ilha Grande Bay's mangrove forest, a potentially unpolluted ecosystem in southeastern Brazil, revealed that while no mutagenicity was detected, certain metals (Cd and Cu) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), particularly benzo[a]pyrene, were present at levels exceeding environmental thresholds. These findings suggest potential genotoxic damage to biota, despite the absence of significant mutagenic activity in tested Salmonella strains. The research analyzed seasonal samples over 2009–2010 using atomic absorption spectrometry, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and a micronucleus assay on Goniopsis cruentata hemocytes, highlighting the need for further monitoring to assess long-term impacts on this UNESCO-listed site's biodiversity.

Velho, A. M. A., Aiub, C. A. F., Mazzei, J. L., Corrêa, S. M., Soares, M. L. G., & Felzenszwalb, I. (2012). Preliminary Study by Environmental Indicator Measurements of Sediments in a Mangrove Forest in Ilha Grande Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil. Journal of Environmental Protection, 03(08), 731–739. https://doi.org/10.4236/jep.2012.38087