Emerging water contaminants threaten marine ecosystems and fisheries in Brazil and Portugal

Researchers in the state of Rio de Janeiro have mapped “emerging contaminants” – pharmaceutical residues, personal‑care products, pesticides and other chemicals – in rivers, lagoons and coastal waters. Funded by FAPERJ and led by UNIRIO scientists, the study links these invisible pollutants to potential disruptions in aquatic biodiversity, the local fishing economy and human health through the food chain. The team emphasizes a One Health approach and is exploring sustainable mitigation technologies.

In Portugal, a University of Aveiro team analysed tissue samples from 43 harbour porpoises stranded between 2005 and 2013 along the coast from Peniche to Caminha. They found elevated levels of persistent organic pollutants, notably PCBs and DDT, with some concentrations surpassing toxicity thresholds for marine mammals. These pollutants can impair immune function and reproduction, compounding the species’ critically endangered status on the Iberian Peninsula. The findings highlight the risk of bioaccumulation in top‑trophic marine fauna and the need for continued monitoring.