An ecotoxicological approach for criteria and standards of sanitary effluent control in Brazil

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.