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Galarza E, Moulatlet GM, Rico A, Cabrera M, Pinos-Velez V, Pérez-González A, Capparelli MV. Human health risk assessment of metals and metalloids in mining areas of the Northeast Andean foothills of the Ecuadorian Amazon. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2023; 19:706-716. [PMID: 36239162 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Gold mining (GM) is a major source of metals and metalloids in rivers, causing severe environmental pollution and increasing the exposure risks to the residents of surrounding areas. Mining in Ecuadorian Amazonia has dramatically increased in recent years, but its impacts on Indigenous local populations that make use of rivers are still unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the risks to adults and children caused by the exposure to metals and metalloids in freshwater ecosystems contaminated with tailings released by GM activities in 11 sites of the upper Napo River basin, Ecuador. We selected a carcinogenic and a noncarcinogenic risk assessment method to estimate the hazard index (HI) and total cancer risk (TCR). The concentration of Ag, Al, As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, B, and V in water and sediment samples was considered to assess the risks to human health. The calculated HI was 23-352 times greater than the acceptable limits in all sites for both children and adults. Mn and Fe were the main contributors (75% in water and 99% in sediment) to the total calculated risk based on the HI. The calculated TCR for children and adults exceeded approximately one to three times the permissible threshold in all sites. As and Pb contributed up to 93% of the total calculated risk based on TCR for both children and adults. This study demonstrates that the emission and mobilization of metals and metalloids caused by mining activities increase the risk to human health, to which we recommend further monitoring of freshwater contamination in the area and the implementation of preventive health management measures. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:706-716. © 2022 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Galarza
- Facultad de Ciencias de La Tierra y Agua, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Tena, Ecuador
| | - Gabriel M Moulatlet
- Red de Biología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, A.C. INECOL, Xalapa, Veracruz, México
| | - Andreu Rico
- IMDEA Water Institute, Science and Technology Campus of the University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, University of Valencia, Paterna, Spain
| | - Marcela Cabrera
- Laboratorio Nacional de Referencia Del Agua, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Tena, Ecuador
| | - Veronica Pinos-Velez
- Departamento de Recursos Hídricos y Ciencias Ambientales, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
- Departamento de Biociencias, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad de Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Andrés Pérez-González
- Grupo de Investigación en Quimiometría y QSAR, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad del Azuay, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Mariana V Capparelli
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología-Estación El Carmen, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad del Carmen, México
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Jiménez-Oyola S, Valverde-Armas PE, Romero-Crespo P, Capa D, Valdivieso A, Coronel-León J, Guzmán-Martínez F, Chavez E. Heavy metal(loid)s contamination in water and sediments in a mining area in Ecuador: a comprehensive assessment for drinking water quality and human health risk. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2023:10.1007/s10653-023-01546-3. [PMID: 36997826 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-023-01546-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Elevated heavy metal(loid)s concentrations in water lower its quality posing a threat to consumers. This study aims to assess the human health risk caused by heavy metal(loid)s in tap water in Santa Rosa city, Ecuador, and the ecological risk of stream water and sediments in the Santa Rosa River. Concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn were evaluated in tap waters, stream waters, and sediment samples during the rainy and dry seasons. The Metal Index (MI), Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), Potential Ecological Risk Index (PERI), and the levels of carcinogenic (CR) and non-carcinogenic risk (HQ) were determined. The results revealed severe pollution levels, mainly in Los Gringos and El Panteon streams, both tributaries of the Santa Rosa River, the primary water source for Santa Rosa inhabitants. More than 20% of the surface water samples showed severe contamination (MI > 6), and 90% of the tap water samples presented a MI value between 1 and 4, which indicates slight to moderate pollution. Drinking water displayed high levels of As, with 83% of the tap water samples collected from households in the dry season above the recommended concentration set by the World Health Organization and Ecuadorian legislation. The Igeo-Cd in the sediment samples was significantly high (Igeo > 3), and the PERI showed very high ecological risk (PERI > 600), with Cd as the main pollutant. HQ and CR were above the safe exposure threshold, suggesting that residents are at risk from tap water consumption, with As being the primary concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Jiménez-Oyola
- Facultad de Ingeniería en Ciencias de la Tierra, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, Ecuador.
| | - Priscila E Valverde-Armas
- Facultad de Ingeniería en Ciencias de la Tierra, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Paola Romero-Crespo
- Facultad de Ingeniería en Ciencias de la Tierra, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Diego Capa
- Facultad de Ingeniería en Ciencias de la Tierra, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Abner Valdivieso
- Facultad de Ingeniería en Ciencias de la Tierra, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Jonathan Coronel-León
- Facultad de Ingeniería Mecánica y Ciencias de la Producción, Centro de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas del Ecuador, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo, Km 30.5, Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Fredy Guzmán-Martínez
- Mexican Geological Survey (SGM), Boulevard Felipe Angeles, Km. 93.50-4, 42083, Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico
| | - Eduardo Chavez
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo Km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, Ecuador
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Romero-Estévez D, Yánez-Jácome GS, Navarrete H. Non-essential metal contamination in Ecuadorian agricultural production: A critical review. J Food Compost Anal 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2022.104932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM): Management and Socioenvironmental Impacts in the Northern Amazon of Ecuador. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14116854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Mining is one of the oldest economic activities of mankind. Within this activity, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is one of the most studied sectors due to its high level of environmental contamination and the social problems it causes. In recent years, ASGM in the northern Amazon of Ecuador has increased significantly, and studies that describe its current situation and impact are scarce. In this sense, the present study aimed to analyze the current status and socioenvironmental impacts caused by ASGM gold mining activities in the Cascales canton in the province of Sucumbíos in northeastern Ecuador. The methodological tools used in the present study were a literature review of scientific and gray literature, field visits to assess perceived impacts and an expert judgment to discuss the results and establish challenges. The main results indicate that illegal and informal activities continue to be carried out in the upper zone of the Cascales and Duvino rivers; 90% of local miners still use mercury in this activity, although it is legally prohibited. Among the main impacts evidenced are the contamination of water bodies, soil and atmosphere due to the use of mercury and disturbance to flora and fauna due to the use of machinery in the exploration process. Finally, the government should focus efforts on strengthening public policies to socialize the importance of good environmental practices in ASGM and the effects of the impacts on human health and environmental issues, all this with the support of social actors, such as ministries, universities, NGOs, ASGM associations and private enterprise.
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