ABSTRACT
Abandoned mining-metallurgical sites can significantly impact the environment and human health by accumulating heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems. The water in the sub-basin near an abandoned smelting facility in the city of La Oroya, Peru, is primarily used for pisciculture. The objective of this study was to assess the risk to human health from exposure to heavy metals via dietary intake of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the influence area of a smelting facility located in the central Andean region of Peru. The bioconcentration factor, biosediment accumulation factor, and consumption risks were evaluated using the Monte Carlo method. The results showed that the concentrations of elements (Zn > Pb > Cu > As) in rainbow trout muscle did not exceed the maximum limit (ML). However, the water significantly exceeded the ML for Pb in all sectors and As in the lower and middle parts of the river. The concentration of Pb in sediments also significantly exceeded the ML in the upper and lower parts of the river. Consequently, rainbow trout consumption in the study area presents risks to human health due to the bioaccumulation of heavy metals, with a 1.27% carcinogenic risk in samples from the lower part of the river.
ABSTRACT
Toxic metal contamination, distribution and risk were evaluated in the sediments of three lagoons used for fish farming in the central region of Peru. The distribution of toxic metals in the sediment was in the following descending order of Zn > V > Ni > Cu > Pb > As > Cr > Co > Cd > Sb. Contamination factor (Cf) and geoaccumulation index (Igeo) values for Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb, V and Zn indicated low contamination and for Cd moderate contamination. The pollution load index (PLI) ranged from 0.3856 to 0.5622; indicating no appreciable contamination and the modified degree of contamination (mCd) corroborated this result. The potential ecological risk (Ri) in the Tranca Grande and Pomacocha lagoons revealed a low potential ecological risk and in Tipicocha a moderate potential ecological risk. HI values < 1 indicated that non-carcinogenic adverse effects were negligible. In adults, the Total carcinogenic risk (TCR) values for As, Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb were less than 1.00E-04, indicating no significant carcinogenic risk. In children, TCR values showed similar behavior with the exception of As. Therefore, considering that fish production for domestic consumption and export is carried out in these lagoons, it is important to continue monitoring toxic metals to protect the health of these ecosystems and human health.
ABSTRACT
Abstract: Among the ecoregions that comprise the high-Andean zone of the Tropical Andes, the Puna and the Yungas stand out for covering a large part of the Peruvian Eastern Andes. Located in the ecotone of these two ecoregions, the Pampa Hermosa National Sanctuary (PHNS) houses one of the priority areas for conservation in Peru. However, the biodiversity of the high-Andean zone of the sanctuary and its surroundings remains poorly studied. Thus, through camera traps and transects, we sought to inventory for the first time the medium and large mammals from the high-Andean region of the PHNS and its buffer zone. We recorded 11 native and three domestic species of medium and large mammals. The richness of native mammals sampled reached 91.7% of the estimated richness (S est.= 11.99 ± 1.85). Among the native species Odocoileus virginianus had the highest relative frequency (56%). We recorded three endemic mammals from the Tropical Andes, Cuniculus taczanowskii, Tremarctos ornatus, and Pudu mephistopheles. The observed richness was higher than most surveys of medium and large mammals carried out in the Puna-forest ecotone in Peru, where the reported richness ranged from 4 to 13 species. In addition, our records of Leopardus pardalis and Eira barbara are the highest for all distribution of these two carnivores. Our results showed that more than 90% of the species recorded were found in it, demonstrating that the entire high-Andean region of the PHNS and its surroundings has an important value for the local mammal community.
Resumo: Dentre as ecorregiões que compreendem a zona alto-andina dos Andes Tropicais, a Puna e as Yungas se destacam por abranger grande parte dos Andes Orientais peruanos. Localizado no ecótono entre estas duas ecorregiões, o Santuário Nacional Pampa Hermosa (SNPH) abriga uma das áreas prioritárias para conservação no Peru. No entanto, a biodiversidade da zona alto-andina do santuário e seu entorno permanece pouco estudada. Dessa forma, através de armadilhas fotográficas e transectos, buscamos inventariar pela primeira vez os mamíferos de médio e grande porte da região alto-andina do SNPH e de sua zona de amortecimento. Nós registramos 11 espécies nativas e três espécies domésticas de mamíferos de médio e grande porte. A riqueza observada dos mamíferos nativos atingiu 91,7% da riqueza estimada (S est.= 11,99 ± 1,85). Dentre as espécies nativas, Odocoileus virginianus foi a que apresentou a maior frequência relativa (56%). Registramos três mamíferos endêmicoss dos Andes Tropicais, Cuniculus taczanowskii, Tremarctos ornatus, e Pudu mephistopheles. A riqueza observada foi superior que a maioria dos levantamentos de mamíferos de médio e grande porte feitos em ecótono Puna-bosque no Peru, onde a riqueza reportada variou de 4 a 13 espécies. Além disso, os registros de Leopardus pardalis e Eira barbara são os mais elevados para toda distribuição destes dois carnívoros. Nossos resultados demonstraram que mais de 90% das espécies registradas foram encontradas nela, demonstrando que toda região alto-andina do SNPH e seu entorno tem um importante valor para a fauna de mamíferos local.
