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Main Author: Gabriela NAVARRETE-FORERO
Format: Artículo científico
Language:en
Published: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=37066256021
https://www.redalyc.org/journal/370/37066256021/
https://www.redalyc.org/journal/370/37066256021/html/
https://www.redalyc.org/journal/370/37066256021/37066256021.epub
https://www.redalyc.org/journal/370/37066256021/movil
https://doi.org/10.20937/RICA.2019.35.03.18
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author Gabriela NAVARRETE-FORERO
author_facet Gabriela NAVARRETE-FORERO
contents HEAVY METALS CONTAMINATION IN THE GULF OF GUAYAQUIL: EVEN LIMITED DATA REFLECTS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS FROM ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITY Gabriela NAVARRETE-FORERO Lady MORALES BAREN Luis DOMINGUEZ-GRANDA José PONTÓN CEVALLOS José R. MARÍN JARRÍN Ciencias de la Tierra lead Cadmium mercury mangrove tropical eastern Pacific The Gulf of Guayaquil, the largest estuary on the Pacific coast of South America, provides livelihoods for fishing communities that supply seafood to national markets. Activities like mining and agriculture are major sources of contamination in the estuary, yet their effects on the ecosystem have not been determined. Publicly-available data were compiled to provide an overview of the level of contamination in water, sediment and seafood in this system. Measured concentrations (Cm) were compared with their corresponding permitted levels (Csl) defined in international regulations. Comparison outcomes were classified using a traffic-light color scale: green for ideal conditions (Cm < Csl × 10–1), yellow for alert situations that require precautionary measures (Csl × 10–1 ≤ Cm ≤ Csl × 10), or red for dangerous situations that must be remediated (Cm > Csl × 10). A total of 24 studies were found. Cadmium, mercury and lead were the most commonly analyzed elements. Water samples showed the highest percentage of dangerous levels (> 70 % for Cd, > 80 % for Hg). Extreme concentrations of Hg (1000 times > Csl) were reported for clams (Anadara spp.) and crabs (Ucides occidentalis) collected in the southern zone impacted by gold mining. Studies evidenced the limited use of quality assurance and control procedures on the data-gathering process, resulting in uncertainty. By using orders of magnitude to assess contamination levels, the effects of low precision in the pattern of contamination were reduced. This contribution intends to inform stakeholders about the implications for public health. 2019 artículo científico 0188-4999 https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=37066256021 https://www.redalyc.org/journal/370/37066256021/ https://www.redalyc.org/journal/370/37066256021/html/ https://www.redalyc.org/journal/370/37066256021/37066256021.epub https://www.redalyc.org/journal/370/37066256021/movil https://doi.org/10.20937/RICA.2019.35.03.18 en http://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=370 Revista Internacional de Contaminación Ambiental application/pdf Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Revista Internacional de Contaminación Ambiental (México) Num.3 Vol.35
format Artículo científico
id redalyc_37066256021
language en
publishDate 2019
publisher Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
spellingShingle HEAVY METALS CONTAMINATION IN THE GULF OF GUAYAQUIL: EVEN LIMITED DATA REFLECTS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS FROM ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITY
Gabriela NAVARRETE-FORERO
Ciencias de la Tierra
lead
Cadmium
mercury
mangrove
tropical eastern Pacific
HEAVY METALS CONTAMINATION IN THE GULF OF GUAYAQUIL: EVEN LIMITED DATA REFLECTS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS FROM ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITY Gabriela NAVARRETE-FORERO Lady MORALES BAREN Luis DOMINGUEZ-GRANDA José PONTÓN CEVALLOS José R. MARÍN JARRÍN Ciencias de la Tierra lead Cadmium mercury mangrove tropical eastern Pacific The Gulf of Guayaquil, the largest estuary on the Pacific coast of South America, provides livelihoods for fishing communities that supply seafood to national markets. Activities like mining and agriculture are major sources of contamination in the estuary, yet their effects on the ecosystem have not been determined. Publicly-available data were compiled to provide an overview of the level of contamination in water, sediment and seafood in this system. Measured concentrations (Cm) were compared with their corresponding permitted levels (Csl) defined in international regulations. Comparison outcomes were classified using a traffic-light color scale: green for ideal conditions (Cm < Csl × 10–1), yellow for alert situations that require precautionary measures (Csl × 10–1 ≤ Cm ≤ Csl × 10), or red for dangerous situations that must be remediated (Cm > Csl × 10). A total of 24 studies were found. Cadmium, mercury and lead were the most commonly analyzed elements. Water samples showed the highest percentage of dangerous levels (> 70 % for Cd, > 80 % for Hg). Extreme concentrations of Hg (1000 times > Csl) were reported for clams (Anadara spp.) and crabs (Ucides occidentalis) collected in the southern zone impacted by gold mining. Studies evidenced the limited use of quality assurance and control procedures on the data-gathering process, resulting in uncertainty. By using orders of magnitude to assess contamination levels, the effects of low precision in the pattern of contamination were reduced. This contribution intends to inform stakeholders about the implications for public health. 2019 artículo científico 0188-4999 https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=37066256021 https://www.redalyc.org/journal/370/37066256021/ https://www.redalyc.org/journal/370/37066256021/html/ https://www.redalyc.org/journal/370/37066256021/37066256021.epub https://www.redalyc.org/journal/370/37066256021/movil https://doi.org/10.20937/RICA.2019.35.03.18 en http://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=370 Revista Internacional de Contaminación Ambiental application/pdf Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Revista Internacional de Contaminación Ambiental (México) Num.3 Vol.35
title HEAVY METALS CONTAMINATION IN THE GULF OF GUAYAQUIL: EVEN LIMITED DATA REFLECTS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS FROM ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITY
topic Ciencias de la Tierra
lead
Cadmium
mercury
mangrove
tropical eastern Pacific
url https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=37066256021
https://www.redalyc.org/journal/370/37066256021/
https://www.redalyc.org/journal/370/37066256021/html/
https://www.redalyc.org/journal/370/37066256021/37066256021.epub
https://www.redalyc.org/journal/370/37066256021/movil
https://doi.org/10.20937/RICA.2019.35.03.18