Like other phthalates, diethyl phthalate (DEP) is considered as a contaminant of emerging concern (CEC) due to its ease in migrating from a package to water and food, and hence contaminate consumers, being metabolized and excreted in the urine. Its presence has a negative impact on aquatic ecosystems, especially with respect to disruption of the endocrine system and to reproductive disorders in humans. It mainly enters water bodies via sewage effluents from effluent treatment plants, due to its incomplete or inefficient removal. The objective of this work was to evaluate the toxicity of DEP at different trophic levels and to analyze data on the incidence and concentration of DEP according to its solubility. The concentrations ranged from 12.5 mg L⁻¹ to 500 mg L⁻¹ considering the response for toxicity at each trophic level and to determine the lethal concentration in 50% of the following organisms (LC₅₀) (in mg L⁻¹): Lactuca sativa seeds, Artemia salina Leach nauplii and Zebrafish embryo larval stage (Danio rerio), being 41,057.58 after 120 h; 401.77 after 48 h; and 470 after 96 h of exposure, respectively. As expected, higher organisms were more affected even at low concentrations, which shows the anthropological contribution of CECs to water bodies.

Urban watercourses are under pressure owing to the inflow of environmental pollutants from stormwater and effluent. The concentrations of heavy metals, ammoniacal nitrogen, total phosphorus (TP), and physicochemical parameters were monitored in a sediment pond in the Brazilian Midwest. The correlation between the variables and the degree of sediment contamination was verified using the Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Contamination Factor (CF), and Pollutant Load Index (PLI). The general concentrations of the metals were in the order Mn > B > Ba > Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Ni in the water and Mn > Cr > Ba ≥ B > Zn > Cu > Ni > Pb in the sediment. The concentrations of Ba, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and TP in the water exceeded the regulatory limits at least one time. The mean concentrations of Cr, Cu, and Ni in the sediment samples were 6.32, 1.63, and 2.61 higher than standard values. The applied geochemical indices indicated a moderate to a very high degree of sediment contamination, suggesting the anthropogenic origin of Cr, Cu, and Ni. Significant Pearson correlations were observed between turbidity and total suspended solids (TSS), Ba, Cr, Mn, Zn, and TP. Ponds and urban lakes require maintenance or may become a source of environmental pollutants.

The pequi fruit, endemic to the Brazilian Cerrado, has been historically valued in gastronomy and traditional medicine, yet its full potential remains underexplored. This article emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices for leveraging pequi’s benefits, particularly in the food sector, while preserving biodiversity and traditional knowledge. The study highlights the challenges of deforestation and poor management in the Cerrado, advocating for agroecosystems and sustainable harvesting to protect both the pequi and its ecosystem. Local awareness, education, and policies like the Minimum Price Guarantee Policy (PGPM-Bio) are essential for conservation and economic growth. The pequi fruit, significant in culinary uses, biodiesel production, and medicine, faces hurdles like market informality and the need for state intervention to formalize the market. Sustainable exploitation of pequi offers prospects for the Cerrado, promoting biodiversity conservation, income generation, and socioeconomic development. The study underscores the necessity of integrating sustainable practices, traditional knowledge, and conservation policies to ensure the future of the pequi fruit and the Cerrado biome. Conscious government initiatives are vital to safeguarding these resources, highlighting the broader implications for environmental and economic sustainability in the region.