Groundwater pollution is a current issue that may result in considerable negative effects on human health and the ecological balance. In the present study, the authors evaluated pollutants in groundwater in Maricá Municipality, located on the east side of Rio de Janeiro state in Brazil. The evaluated parameters were temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, Eh, dissolved oxygen, chlorides, nitrates, dissolved organic carbon, total inorganic carbon, phosphates, and total and thermotolerant coliforms. Due to the large number of evaluated points, they were divided into zones according to the respective hydrographic basin. The local accelerated urbanization accompanying income from oil production has led to uncontrolled population growth and associated groundwater pollution. The results of the present study suggest that sewage pollution of Maricá groundwater is already a significant issue. The lack of investment in basic sanitation has led to an imbalance in the local groundwater reservoir. In certain locations of the municipality, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nutrient, and bacteria concentrations increase and spread in the aquifers because of domestic waste disposal. As aquifers are the main source of freshwater for the residents, contamination of them represents a potential threat to local public health.

As a result of their great versatility and use, plastic dies became fundamental as one of the basic raw materials for the technological revolution during the post-World War II period. The significant importance of these “new” materials is confirmed, as many researchers around the globe consider that sedimentary plastic layers as an indicative of the beginning of the Anthropocene Era. Along the industrialization period, annual plastic production has increased from less than two million tons in 1950 to over 350 million tons today, and if current demand continues, it is expected to exceed 30 billion tons by 2050 (Porta, 2021). Como resultado de sua grande versatilidade e utilização, as matrizes plásticas tornaram-se fundamentais como uma das matérias primas básicas para a revolução tecnológica durante o período pós-Segunda Guerra Mundial. A importância significativa desses "novos" materiais é confirmada, pois muitos pesquisadores em todo o mundo consideram que as camadas sedimentares de plástico como um indicativo do início da Era Antropocênica. Durante todo o período de industrialização, a produção anual de plástico aumentou de menos de dois milhões de toneladas em 1950 para mais de 350 milhões de toneladas hoje, e se a demanda atual continuar, espera-se que exceda 30 bilhões de toneladas até 2050 (Porta, 2021).

Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are emerging pollutants that can potentially accumulate in aquatic ecosystems at significant levels, with the potential to impact the health of both animals and humans. Many scientists have correlated human exposure to high concentrations of EDCs with critical physiological impacts, including infertility, thyroid imbalance, early sexual development, endometriosis, diabetes, and obesity. Several substances, such as heavy metals, belong to this family, ranging from natural to synthetic compounds, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and plastic-derived compounds. Domestic sewage represents a significant source of EDCs in the surrounding aquatic ecosystems. To this day, most rural and urban domestic wastewater in the municipality of Maricá is directly discharged into local aquatic environments without any treatment. The present study aimed to assess the potential contamination of the riverine and lagoonal environment in the municipality of Maricá. Water and sediment samples were collected seasonally at 18 sites along the Maricá watershed and the main lagoon, into which most of the watershed’s contributors flow. Water physico-chemical parameters (pH, reduction–oxidation potential—Eh, dissolved oxygen levels, salinity, turbidity, temperature, and fecal coliforms) were analyzed to characterize the urban influence on the aquatic environment. Sediment samples were also analyzed for grain size, total organic carbon percentage, potential bioavailable fraction of trace metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Hg, Ni, Zn), and metalloid As. Finally, the sediment toxicity was assessed using yeast estrogen screen (YES) assays. The results obtained already demonstrate the presence of estrogenic effects and raise concerns about water quality. The current study indicates that, despite the absence of agricultural and industrial activities in the city of Maricá, EDCs are already present and have the potential to impact the local ecosystem, posing potential risks to human health.

A industrialização representa a base da expansão econômica e urbanização global, que estimula diversos setores em paralelo com o crescimento da população mundial. Espera-se que até 2050, a humanidade atinja 9,9 bilhões, aumentando a demanda de energia e alimentos em 80% e 70%, respectivamente (Wang et al., 2021). Durante os dois últimos séculos, a economia mundial se desenvolveu por meio da superexploração dos recursos naturais e do desvio e/ou desbalanço dos ciclos biogeoquímicos, dos quais a biosfera é dependente. Neste contexto, o desmatamento desenfreado para uso da terra na produção de alimentos, além do uso de recursos como a queima de combustíveis fósseis, levou à intensificação das emissões de fontes antropogênicas de gases de efeito estufa (GEEs), impactando o clima global (Malhi et al., 2021). Como exemplo, em 2016, sistemas energéticos e alimentares representaram mais de 90% de todas as emissões globais de GEEs (principalmente na forma de CO2). Por fim, calcula-se que as emissões de GEE aumentem em 50% até 2050, principalmente devido ao incremento de 70% nas emissões de CO2 relacionadas à energia, com impactos diretos no equilíbrio dos ecossistemas mundiais e sobrevivência da biosfera.

Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are emerging pollutants that can potentially accumulate in aquatic ecosystems at significant levels, with the potential to impact the health of both animals and humans. Many scientists have correlated human exposure to high concentrations of EDCs with critical physiological impacts, including infertility, thyroid imbalance, early sexual development, endometriosis, diabetes, and obesity. Several substances, such as heavy metals, belong to this family, ranging from natural to synthetic compounds, including pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and plastic-derived compounds. Domestic sewage represents a significant source of EDCs in the surrounding aquatic ecosystems. To this day, most rural and urban domestic wastewater in the municipality of Marica is directly discharged into local aquatic environments without any treatment. The present study aimed to assess the potential contamination of the riverine and lagoonal environment in the municipality of Marica. Water and sediment samples were collected seasonally at 18 sites along the Maricá watershed and the main lagoon, where most of the watershed contributors flow. Water physico-chemical parameters (pH, Eh, dissolved oxygen levels, salinity, turbidity, temperature, and fecal coliforms) were analyzed to characterize the urban influence on the aquatic environment. Simultaneously, sediment samples were analyzed for grain size, total organic carbon percentage, and the potential bioavailable fraction of trace metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Hg, Ni, Zn, and As). Finally, the sediment toxicity was assessed using YES assays. The results obtained already demonstrate the presence of estrogenic effects and raise concerns about water quality. The findings from the present study suggest that, despite the absence of agricultural and industrial activities in the city of Maricá, EDCs are already present and have the potential to impact the local ecosystem, posing potential risks to human health.