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Carrera-Beltrán L, Gavilanes-Terán I, Idrovo-Novillo J, Valverde VH, Rodríguez-Pinos A, Paredes C, Signes-Pastor AJ, Carbonell-Barrachina ÁA. Environmental pollution by heavy metals within the area influenced by the Tungurahua volcano eruption - Ecuador. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2024; 270:115919. [PMID: 38176183 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Volcanic eruptions can have long-lasting negative effects on nearby environments and communities, especially those relying on agriculture. The Tungurahua and Sangay volcanoes in Ecuador's highlands pose a significant risk to the region's agricultural economy and inhabitants. The most recent eruption of the Tungurahua volcano spanned from September 1999 to March 2016. Volcanic ash is known to contain both non-essential and essential elements for plant growth, but excessive amounts of the latter can also be toxic and disrupt physiological processes. Additionally, the use of pesticides and fertilizers introduces additional elements to agricultural soils, which can potentially transfer to edible plants and raise health concerns for consumers. Despite this, little is known about the impact of the Tungurahua volcano's latest eruption on soil deposition of micronutrient and heavy metals and their potential transfer to the food chain. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a study to explore the impact of the Tungurahua volcano's latest eruption on soil deposition of Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, As, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn, as well as the physicochemical characteristics of cultivated and uncultivated soil samples and vegetables in the cantons most affected by volcanic ash. According to our findings, the physicochemical properties, micronutrient, and heavy metal concentrations of both cultivated and uncultivated soils differ and, in some cases, exceeded the maximum limits established, which could affect the health of the soil as well as of human beings through the trophic chain. This study provides valuable information for monitoring the chemical and physical properties of soil and vegetables in areas affected by the Tungurahua volcanic activity and agriculture, aiding in understanding their impact on the environment, agriculture, and potential health risks associated with locally grown crops in rural Ecuadorian communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lourdes Carrera-Beltrán
- Facultad de Ciencias. Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH) EC060155-Riobamba (Chimborazo), Ecuador
| | - Irene Gavilanes-Terán
- Facultad de Ciencias. Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH) EC060155-Riobamba (Chimborazo), Ecuador
| | - Julio Idrovo-Novillo
- Facultad de Ciencias. Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo (ESPOCH) EC060155-Riobamba (Chimborazo), Ecuador
| | - Victor Hugo Valverde
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Riobamba 060108, Chimborazo, Ecuador
| | - Adrián Rodríguez-Pinos
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon S7N5A9, Canada
| | - Concepción Paredes
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Miguel Hernandez University, EPSO-Orihuela, Ctra. Beniel km 3.2, Orihuela, Alicante 03312, Spain
| | - Antonio J Signes-Pastor
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Miguel Hernandez University, EPSO-Orihuela, Ctra. Beniel km 3.2, Orihuela, Alicante 03312, Spain; Unidad de Epidemiología de la Nutrición. Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain; CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de Alicante (ISABIAL), Spain.
| | - Ángel A Carbonell-Barrachina
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Miguel Hernandez University, EPSO-Orihuela, Ctra. Beniel km 3.2, Orihuela, Alicante 03312, Spain.
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