Natural and anthropogenic pollution in San Luis Talpa, El Salvador
Edgar Quinteros (1), Alexandre Ribó (1), David Alfaro (1), Roberto Mejía (1), Wilfredo Beltetón (1), Carlos M. Orantes (1), Dina L. López (2)
(1) National Institute of Health, Ministry of Health of El Salvador
(2) Department of Geological Science, Ohio University
Presentation: Video available since 22.08.2014, [Video]
Discussion: 26.08.2014, [Discussion]
Soil and water contamination by metals has become a serious widespread problem in many part of the world due to the effects they have on human and environmental health. This problem especially affects to developing countries due to the poor training of peasants and due to the lack or poor enforcement of laws. Soil and water of El Salvador have concentrations of arsenic and heavy metals, from natural sources (the volcanic bedrock and hydrothermal fluids) and/or related to anthropic sources (industrial waste, municipal waste and some agrochemicals).
This study was performed in San Luis Talpa in Loma del Gallo, a low income community with high prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). This is an agricultural community located close to a former factory of organochlorine pesticides (Quimagro). This study aims to characterize the content of pollution by heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu and Zn) and a metalloid (As) in the community. Samples of surface water, groundwater, housing land, agricultural soil, former factory soil, bedrock and sediments were collected.
The results showed arsenic and heavy metals presence in soil, sediment and groundwater. Higher contents of Arsenic in soil are widespread in the Quimagro factory area and in the lands located in the northern side of Littoral Highway; this highway is located between Quimagro factory and Loma del Gallo community east west. Cooper and chromium pollution are focused in former industrial soils. Chromium values found are high (max 1221 mg/kg). Cd, Pb and Zn are widespread in the housing soil and in the agricultural areas close to the community. Groundwater has 0.01 mg/l concentration of As, water obtained in the well located in the Quimagro factory present the maximum concentration of As, this value is equal to the limit of the Salvadoran normative for drinking water. Water from well located in a sugar cane field, westwards of community, presents the highest concentration of Cd (max 0.004 mg/l) with levels higher than the standard for drinking water (0.003 mg/l). High concentrations of As (max 0.026 mg/l) in water have been obtained in the sampled rivers of this region which represents a risk for the aquatic life. The limit of As in freshwater for aquatic life established by Canadian guidelines is 0.005 mg/l. High Cd (max 0.00009 mg/l) concentrations have been obtained southwards of the community where rivers cross sugar cane fields, this limit is upper than the limit (0.00008 mg/l) established by Canadian guidelines for aquatic life. According these results geogenic sources could contribute in a high fraction to Arsenic concentrations in soils and waters. On the other hand, different anthropogenic sources, as wastes of former Quimagro factory or the agrochemicals used in sugar cane fields could be related with the high concentrations of Cr and Cd respectively.
This study was performed in San Luis Talpa in Loma del Gallo, a low income community with high prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). This is an agricultural community located close to a former factory of organochlorine pesticides (Quimagro). This study aims to characterize the content of pollution by heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu and Zn) and a metalloid (As) in the community. Samples of surface water, groundwater, housing land, agricultural soil, former factory soil, bedrock and sediments were collected.
The results showed arsenic and heavy metals presence in soil, sediment and groundwater. Higher contents of Arsenic in soil are widespread in the Quimagro factory area and in the lands located in the northern side of Littoral Highway; this highway is located between Quimagro factory and Loma del Gallo community east west. Cooper and chromium pollution are focused in former industrial soils. Chromium values found are high (max 1221 mg/kg). Cd, Pb and Zn are widespread in the housing soil and in the agricultural areas close to the community. Groundwater has 0.01 mg/l concentration of As, water obtained in the well located in the Quimagro factory present the maximum concentration of As, this value is equal to the limit of the Salvadoran normative for drinking water. Water from well located in a sugar cane field, westwards of community, presents the highest concentration of Cd (max 0.004 mg/l) with levels higher than the standard for drinking water (0.003 mg/l). High concentrations of As (max 0.026 mg/l) in water have been obtained in the sampled rivers of this region which represents a risk for the aquatic life. The limit of As in freshwater for aquatic life established by Canadian guidelines is 0.005 mg/l. High Cd (max 0.00009 mg/l) concentrations have been obtained southwards of the community where rivers cross sugar cane fields, this limit is upper than the limit (0.00008 mg/l) established by Canadian guidelines for aquatic life. According these results geogenic sources could contribute in a high fraction to Arsenic concentrations in soils and waters. On the other hand, different anthropogenic sources, as wastes of former Quimagro factory or the agrochemicals used in sugar cane fields could be related with the high concentrations of Cr and Cd respectively.