Avaliação hematológica em Sphoeroides testudineus de regiões estuarinas sob diferentes níveis de influência antropogênica

Estuarine and coastal environments may exhibit different levels of anthropogenic disturbance and contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The checkered pufferfish (Sphoeroides testudineus) inhabits marine and estuarine environments and has been used in ecotoxicological studies. This study aimed to compare the hematological parameters (erythrogram and total leukocyte and thrombocyte counts) of S. testudineus, as well as the concentrations of priority PAHs in sediments, between the Santos Port Channel, considered a polluted environment, and the Barra do Una Sustainable Development Reserve (SDR), used as a reference area. Six PAHs were detected exclusively in sediment samples from the Santos Port Channel, with a total concentration (ΣPAHs) of 447.2 ± 226.3 µg kg⁻¹. Fish collected at this site exhibited leukopenia and thrombocytosis compared with individuals from the Barra do Una SDR, whereas no changes were observed in the erythrogram. These findings demonstrate differences in environmental conditions between the studied areas and support the integrated use of hematological parameters and contaminant analyses to assess environmental quality.