Dear collegues,

On behalf of my co-authors, I am pleased to share our new work published in STOTEN (Science of the Total Environment) regarding temporal trends in trace elements bioaccumulation in franciscana dolphin from Espirito Santo state coast.


The paper is available open access until November 03, 2021 at:https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1dlFZB8ccq-v0

Here is the Abstract:
One of the largest environmental disasters worldwide occurred on November 5th, 2015, when the Fundão dam collapsed in Mariana (Minas Gerais State, Southeast Brazil). The tailing mud flooded the Doce River basin and reached the sea in the coast of Espírito Santo State (ES), Southeast Brazil. This coastal region is the habitat of the most isolated population of franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei), with the lowest populational census and lowest genetic diversity in Franciscana Management Area Ia (FMA Ia) - 18° 25′S and 21° 17′S. This study aimed to assess the bioaccumulation of trace-elements (As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, and Zn) in muscle, liver and kidney of franciscana dolphins collected near the Doce River's mouth before (n = 32) and after (n = 19) the tailing mud reached the sea. The Generalized Additive Model (GAM) showed increasing temporal trends of Hg and Zn in muscle and liver after the dam failure, probably related to higher concentrations and bioavailability in the water column and sediments from the Doce River. Declining trends were found for As and Cu muscular and hepatic concentrations and Fe concentrations in kidney due to their lower bioavailability after the disaster, caused by association with tailings mud trapped in the riverbanks and suspended particulate material. Additionally, higher As and Hg concentrations found in the first period of sampling may be due to historical contamination by mining activities. The full extent of the impacts caused by the Fundão dam failure is still unknown. However, due to their rapid increase and remobilization process, toxic effects can be induced in the biota by these elements. Elements' bioaccumulation in this study contributes to the knowledge of franciscana dolphins from FMA Ia. Considering the conservation concern regarding this franciscana population and its scarce knowledge, the impact of this disaster can be alarming for species conservation.

Best regards,



Bárbara Manhães Moura Reis
Doutora em Ciências Biológicas (Biofísica), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Mestre em Oceanografia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Bióloga, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)
Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos e Bioindicadores "Izabel Gurgel"(MAQUA)- FAOC (UERJ)
Avenida São Francisco Xavier 524 Maracanã- Rio de Janeiro-RJ- Cep 20550-900
Tel: (21) 2334-0795