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Escobar-Camacho D, Rosero-López D, Ruiz-Urigüen M, Barragán KS, Carpintero-Salvador N, Daza JR, Aldous A, Benítez S, Tear T, Encalada AC. Mercury in aquatic ecosystems of two indigenous communities in the Piedmont Ecuadorian Amazon: evidence from fish, water, and sediments. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 33:440-456. [PMID: 38847980 PMCID: PMC11213792 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-024-02764-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Mercury is a highly toxic element present in water, soil, air, and biota. Anthropogenic activities, such as burning fossil fuels, mining, and deforestation, contribute to the presence and mobilization of mercury between environmental compartments. Although current research on mercury pathways has advanced our understanding of the risks associated with human exposure, limited information exists for remote areas with high diversity of fauna, flora, and indigenous communities. This study aims to deepen our understanding of the presence of total mercury in water, sediments, and fish, within aquatic ecosystems of two indigenous territories: Gomataon (Waorani Nationality) and Sinangoé (Ai´Cofán Nationality) in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Our findings indicate that, for most fish (91.5%), sediment (100%) and water (95.3%) samples, mercury levels fall under international limits. For fish, no significant differences in mercury levels were detected between the two communities. However, eight species exceeded recommended global limits, and one surpassed the threshold according to Ecuadorian legislation. Piscivore and omnivore fish exhibited the highest concentrations of total mercury among trophic guilds. Only one water sample from each community's territory exceeded these limits. Total mercury in sediments exhibited greater concentrations in Gomataon than Sinangoé. Greater levels of mercury in sediments were associated with the occurrence of total organic carbon. Considering that members of the communities consume the analyzed fish, an interdisciplinary approach, including isotopic analysis, methylmercury sampling in humans, and mercury monitoring over time, is imperative for a detailed risk assessment of mercury exposure in Amazonian communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Escobar-Camacho
- Laboratorio de Ecología Acuática, Instituto BIOSFERA, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, 170150, Ecuador.
| | - Daniela Rosero-López
- Laboratorio de Ecología Acuática, Instituto BIOSFERA, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, 170150, Ecuador
| | - Melany Ruiz-Urigüen
- Core Lab de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, 170901, Ecuador
- Ingeniería Ambiental, Colegio de Ciencias e Ingenierías, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Karla S Barragán
- Laboratorio de Ecología Acuática, Instituto BIOSFERA, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, 170150, Ecuador
| | | | - José R Daza
- Laboratorio de Ecología Acuática, Instituto BIOSFERA, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, 170150, Ecuador
| | | | | | - Timothy Tear
- Biodiversity Research Institute, Portland, ME, USA
| | - Andrea C Encalada
- Laboratorio de Ecología Acuática, Instituto BIOSFERA, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, 170150, Ecuador
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Passarelli I, Villacis Verdesoto MV, Jiménez-Oyola S, Flores Huilcapi AG, Mora-Silva D, Anfuso G, Esparza Parra JF, Jimenez-Gutierrez M, Carrera Almendáriz LS, Avalos Peñafiel VG, Straface S, Mestanza-Ramón C. Analysis of Mercury in Aquifers in Gold Mining Areas in the Ecuadorian Amazon and Its Associated Risk for Human Health. TOXICS 2024; 12:162. [PMID: 38393257 PMCID: PMC10892106 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12020162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Gold mining activity is a source of supply in many areas of the world, and especially in developing countries, it is practiced illegally and by applying unsafe techniques. Particularly in Ecuador, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is widespread, and it is based on the use of toxic substances, such as mercury (Hg), in gold recovery. Hg is a heavy metal that is water-insoluble, which, once mobilized, poses a threat to both the environment and human health. This study analyzes Hg concentrations in the six provinces of Napo, Sucumbíos, Orellana, Pastaza, Morona Santiago, and Zamora Chinchipe of the Ecuadorian Amazon region to conduct a human health risk assessment. Significant differences in Hg levels were found between provinces, but concentrations were below MPL imposed by Ecuadorian regulations everywhere. Nevertheless, a worrisome picture emerges, especially with regard to the most vulnerable receptors represented by the child population. There are multiple factors of incidence that may affect the possible future development of the phenomenon, and with reference to the social, economic, and environmental context of the region, it can be concluded that it may be appropriate to plan further investigation to arrive at a more comprehensive assessment. The results of this study can be used by decision makers to plan further investigation and to implement monitoring networks, risk mitigation strategies, and groundwater protection measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Passarelli
- Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy; (I.P.)
| | | | - Samantha Jiménez-Oyola
- Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Facultad de Ingeniería en Ciencias de la Tierra, ESPOL Polytechnic University, Campus Gustavo Galindo km 30.5 Vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil 090101, Ecuador
| | - Ana Gabriela Flores Huilcapi
- Faculty of Food Science and Engineering and Biotechnology, Universidad Técnica de Ambato, Av. Colombia y Chile, Ambato 180104, Ecuador
| | - Demmy Mora-Silva
- Research Group YASUNI-SDC, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Sede Orellana, El Coca 220001, Ecuador
| | - Giorgio Anfuso
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cádiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain;
| | - Jose Fernando Esparza Parra
- Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH), Faculty of Natural Resources, Panamericana Sur km 1 ½, Riobamba 060155, Ecuador
| | | | | | | | - Salvatore Straface
- Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy; (I.P.)
| | - Carlos Mestanza-Ramón
- Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy; (I.P.)
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Meutia AA, Bachriadi D, Gafur NA. Environment Degradation, Health Threats, and Legality at the Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining Sites in Indonesia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6774. [PMID: 37754633 PMCID: PMC10531021 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20186774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Artisanal Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) activities, despite offering numerous economic incentives, inflict negative impacts on the environment and public health due to the use of mercury or cyanide. This study aims to compare three ASGM locations in Indonesia in terms of environmental impacts and potential health problems in the community. As part of this research, field surveys at three ASGM illegal locations with different conditions, observations, literature studies, and interviews with the community and stakeholders were conducted. At each of the survey sites, the potential threat to public health due to the use of mercury was determined to be high. Additionally, many of the environmental impacts detected were deemed to have reached a high-alert stage, in some cases even posing a level of extreme danger. Based on these results, it has become clear that a form of mining management which reduces the negative impacts on the surrounding environment and community health is needed. The suggestions put forward in this paper, including the call for greater control of ASGM, may also be applied in other developing countries which suffer from similar problems and conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ami A. Meutia
- Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, 457-4 Motoyama, Kamigamo, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8047, Japan;
| | - Dianto Bachriadi
- Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, 457-4 Motoyama, Kamigamo, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8047, Japan;
| | - Nurfitri Abdul Gafur
- Research Center for Environmental and Clean Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Building 820 Geostech, South Tangerang 15341, Banten, Indonesia;
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