though some experts point to the impacts of unchecked tourism or illegal fishing, the main issue facing the islands seems to be water pollution.

aside from the underwater discharge coming from ipanema, there is also evidence to suggest that sea birds living on the islands are eating contaminated fish from guanabara bay and then passing the toxins through their waste and their young.

thus, though laje and the rest of the cagarras are separated from the city by law, they are very much affected by the city all the same.