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An ecotoxicological approach for criteria and standards of sanitary effluent control in Brazil
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A review of ecotoxicological criteria for effluent release in Brazil found only six states have more protective legislation than federal standards, with emerging contaminants including microplastics not addressed by conventional sewage treatment or most current regulations.
Brazil is noteworthy in South America due to several laws concerning effluent ecotoxicological assessments. Due to the growing demand for sanitary effluent toxicity control in urban settings, this study carried out a comprehensive assessment of current ecotoxicological criteria and standards for effluent release in receiving water bodies in Brazil. The findings reveal that states mostly apply federal legislation, with only six states (SP, RJ, MG, PR, SC, RS) establishing more protective laws. These results aid in establishing environmental legislation adjustments, aiming at greater environmental safety and preventing contamination by contaminants of emerging interest, such as microplastics, certain drugs and nanocomposites, which are not removed by conventional sewage systems treatment.
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This Brazilian literature review examines the environmental impact of plastics and microplastics across different pollution scenarios, discussing the history of plastic production and consumption, relevant environmental legislation, and the importance of recycling in addressing plastic contamination.
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Using Brazil as a case study, this paper classified hotspots and priorities for reducing plastic emissions and mismanaged waste, arguing that microplastics' classification as emerging contaminants requires clearer information tools to guide government intervention and pollution control efforts.
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Researchers examined microplastics in the effluent and screening residues of a Brazilian university wastewater treatment plant. The study found microplastics present in both raw sewage and treated effluent, confirming that conventional treatment does not fully remove these particles before water is discharged. This highlights sewage systems as an underappreciated pathway for microplastic contamination reaching the environment.
Rethinking the Environmental Quality of Brazilian Beaches: The Incidence of Microplastics as Indicator for Sea Water and Sand Quality
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This paper proposes using microplastic levels in beach sand and seawater as indicators of beach environmental quality, arguing that current assessments in Brazil focus too narrowly on microbial contamination. The authors present evidence that microplastic contamination poses health risks to swimmers and coastal communities that should be incorporated into beach quality standards.
From Scientific Evidence to Regulatory Action: Emerging Contaminants and Adaptive Water Governance in Brazil
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This review summarizes existing research on drug residues, hormones, PFAS, antibiotic-resistance genes, and microplastics found in Brazilian waters, comparing this evidence to current regulations. It finds that Brazilian rules only partly address these contaminants, unlike the European Union, and proposes a new monitoring and review system for Brazil.
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