Pollution of Brazilian marine ecosystems: a brief review of the main sources of impact and the importance of environmental monitoring Lucas Lopes Leon, Juliana Bataglin Bertolucci, Amanda Santiago de Souza, Aline Queiroz de Goes, Danilo Balthazar-Silva, Ana Beatriz Carollo Rocha-Lima

Abstract

Brazilian marine ecosystems are currently in a worrisome state of degradation due to the impacts caused by several pollutants, among which solid waste is the most important. The solid waste dumped in the seas deeply interferes with the environment as it is constantly mistaken with food by marine flora and fauna, which can lead to severe consequences and even death of these animals. Waste is also dangerous to humans as it can cause the proliferation of several pathogenic micro-organisms. This study it is a brief review of the literature, addressing some of the most relevant aspects of the topic discussed. We aimed to  offer, in a succinct and didactic way, parameters to identify the anthropogenic effects that cause the ecological imbalance, as well as to support the creation of laws, standards and regulations of preventive measures of the aquatic environment, as well as constant monitoring actions. Even if pollutants are relatively well studied, the continuous acquisition of knowledge to monitor these effects should not be discontinued, since the combat this threat is still incipient.