The majority of the large urban centers or megacities around the world are located in the coastal zone.  Hence effective management of the environment within and around the urban centers and of the impact of them is of critical importance to a large proportion of the world�s population. The case study of Todos os Santos Bay (BTS), located along the third largest Brazilian metropolis will be presented, with a focus on the contamination by trace elements and priority organic compounds (PHAs, endocrine disruptors, etc.). As part of a long-term multidisciplinary research program, an extensive evaluation has been made to assess the spatial and temporal variability in the environment quality of the different ecosystems of the Todos os Santos Bay. Examples of the application of multiples lines of evidence, including the chemistry of the several environmental matrices, ecology, ecotoxicology, among others, in the evaluation of the anthropogenic impacts in coastal ecosystems and the services they provide will be discussed. Special attention will be given to contamination problems that may impact in biota and/or human health. This study is subsidizing the definition of the priority research needs to deepen the understand of the BTS social-ecological system and is promoting a linkage between scientists and decision makers with the aim to promote the sustainable environmental development of the area.

Legacy of large urban centers: Todos os Santos Bay case study

248th National Meeting (2014)

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