title: Soil ecotoxicology in Brazil is taking its course.
abstract: Soil ecotoxicology has been motivated by the increasing global awareness on environmental issues. Northern Hemisphere has been the main driver of this science branch; however, the number and quality of contributions from the Southern Hemisphere are increasing quickly. In this case study, Brazil is taken as an example of how soil ecotoxicology has developed over the last 30 years. It starts with a brief historical overview depicting the main events on soil ecotoxicology in the country. Following, an overview on the Brazilian legislation related to soil ecotoxicology is given, covering regulations with prospective focus, mainly on the registration of pesticides. Regulations with retrospective focus in contaminated areas are also given. Then, an outline of the actors in soil ecotoxicology and examples of prospective ecotoxicological studies performed with soil organisms and plants are given by stressor groups: pesticides, pharmaceuticals, metals, and residues. Experiences from retrospective studies, mainly looking at the assessment of industrial sites, are also covered. Emphasis is given on methodological aspects, pointing to needed actions, mainly regarding the different biotic and abiotic conditions of a tropical country. Finally, the last session discusses how soil ecotoxicology could be improved in methodological adaptations as well as legal requirements.
authors.affiliation: Embrapa Cerrados, BR 020 BSB/FORTALEZA Km 18, Caixa-postal: 08223, Brasilia, Planaltina DF, CEP 73310-970, Brazil. cintiacn@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Cintia Carla
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Niva
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Campus de Curitibanos, Rod. Ulysses Gaboardi, Km 3, Faz. Pessegueirinho, Caixa-postal 101, Curitibanos, SC, CEP 89520-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Julia Carina
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Niemeyer
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), Av. Itália, Km 8, Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, RS, CEP 96203-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flávio Manoel Rodrigues Da Silva
authors.initials: FMRDS
authors.lastname: Júnior
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Engenharia Ambiental/EESC/USP, Núcleo de Ecotoxicologia e Ecologia Aplicada, CRHEA/EESC/USP, Av. Trabalhador Sancarlense, 400, Caixa-postal 292, São Carlos, SP, CEP 13566-590, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Edna Tenório
authors.initials: MET
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis (IBAMA), Diretoria de Qualidade Ambiental, Coordenação de Avaliação Ambiental de Produtos Perigosos, SCEN Trecho 2 - Ed. Sede, Brasília, Asa Norte DF, CEP 70818-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danilo Lourenço
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: De Sousa
authors.affiliation: Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis (IBAMA), Diretoria de Qualidade Ambiental, Coordenação de Avaliação Ambiental de Produtos Perigosos, SCEN Trecho 2 - Ed. Sede, Brasília, Asa Norte DF, CEP 70818-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Clara Wandenkolck Silva
authors.initials: CWS
authors.lastname: Aragão
authors.affiliation: Universidade Positivo, Pós-Graduação em Gestão Ambiental, Rua Professor Pedro Viriato Parigot de Souza, de 3841/3842 ao fim, Curitiba, PR, CEP 81280-330, Brasil.
authors.forename: Klaus Dieter
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Sautter
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Hidráulica e Saneamento/EESC/USP, Av. Trabalhador Sancarlense, 400, Caixa-postal 292, São Carlos, SP, CEP 13566-590, Brazil.
authors.forename: Evaldo Gaeta
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Espindola
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, Universidade de Coimbra, Centre for Functional Ecology, University of Coimbra, Lg. Marquês de Pombal, Coimbra, 3004-517, Portugal.
authors.forename: José Paulo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH, Böttgerstraße 2, Flörsheim am Main, 65439, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Römbke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D054750:Ecotoxicology / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D033161:Government Regulation; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D014329:Tropical Climate
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: Legislation; Pesticides; Residues; Risk assessment; Soil ecotoxicology; Soil organisms; Tropics