Cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and impact on populations of the mangrove sentinel species, Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) (Brachyura, Ocypodidae) after an environmental disaster at Cubatão, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract In 2015, a serious environmental disaster occurred at ULTRACARGO - Aratu S/A Terminal (Cubatão, SP) causing a long-lasting, large-scale, fire that resulted in the release of various chemical pollutants, including those used to contain the fire. These pollutants affected adjacent regions and the innermost area of the Santos-São Vicente Estuarine System, requiring the assessment of environmental quality in two mangrove areas post-disaster (2016). This assessment considered biomarkers for the species including population density, structure, and cytogenotoxicity. The population structure and cytotoxicity of Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) only changed slightly from pre-disaster (2013) to post-disaster (2016), as a consequence of the greater resilience and biological flexibility of this crab to environmental stress caused by pollutants. We recommend continuous monitoring be conducted using this species endemic to the mangroves of the study site, as this will make it possible to assess the magnitude of the chronic environmental impacts of the accident. In addition, it could guide environmental agencies in damage mitigation or in the quantification of possible future impacts.

摘要 2015年，位于巴西圣保罗州库巴唐市的ULTRACARGO-Aratu S/A码头发生重大环境灾害，引发持续大规模火灾，导致多种化学污染物泄漏，其中包括用于扑救火灾的药剂。上述污染物波及周边区域以及桑托斯-圣维森特河口系统（Santos-São Vicente Estuarine System）的内湾区域，因此灾后（2016年）需对两处红树林区域开展环境质量评估。本次评估针对研究涉及的物种采用了多项生物标志物，涵盖种群密度、种群结构与细胞遗传毒性。相较于灾前（2013年），灾后（2016年）弧边拟滨蟹（Ucides cordatus，Linnaeus, 1763）的种群结构与细胞毒性仅出现轻微变化，这源于该蟹类对污染物引发的环境胁迫具备更强的恢复力与生物学可塑性。我们建议针对该研究区域红树林的特有物种开展持续监测，以此精准评估此次事故的慢性环境影响程度，同时可为环境管理机构开展损害缓解或量化未来潜在影响提供指导。