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Spatial and temporal trace metal distribution of a Peruvian basin: recognizing trace metal sources and assessing the potential risk

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Abstract

Recent efforts have been made to determine the environmental impact of mining over the past 11 years in the Jequetepeque River basin, in northern Peru. We have now analyzed data from two studies to elucidate the spatial and temporal trace metal distributions and to assess the sources of contamination. These two studies were carried out from 2003 to 2008 by a Peruvian government administration and from 2008 to 2010 by us. We analyzed 249 samples by principal component analysis, measuring: pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, chloride, weak-acid-dissociable cyanide, total cyanide, nitrite and nitrate, ammonium, sulfate, and trace metals and metalloids (Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn). Within the spatial distribution of the basin, the highest Al, As, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Pb concentrations were found at the closest point to the mine sites for both periods of time, with the higher peaks measured during the first years of the sampling data. Temporal trends showed higher concentrations of Cu and Fe in samples taken before 2005, at which point the two mines were closed. Risk assessment was quantified by the hazard quotient as related to water ingestion. The risk for human health posed by the concentrations of several trace metals and metalloids was found to be highly adverse (As and Cr), significant (Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, and Pb), or minimal (Ni and Zn).

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the UPC’s Center for Development Cooperation, CCD. Thanks are due to the Cajamarca Regional Government for support in the data collection and the monitoring process, and to the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Sustainability, UPC-, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Av. Diagonal 647, Edifici H Planta 4ª, Barcelona, 08028, Spain

    C. Yacoub, A. Pérez-Foguet & N. Miralles

  2. Department of Applied Mathematics, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

    A. Pérez-Foguet

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

    C. Yacoub, N. Blazquez & N. Miralles

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  1. C. Yacoub
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  2. N. Blazquez
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  3. A. Pérez-Foguet
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  4. N. Miralles
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Correspondence to C. Yacoub.

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Yacoub, C., Blazquez, N., Pérez-Foguet, A. et al. Spatial and temporal trace metal distribution of a Peruvian basin: recognizing trace metal sources and assessing the potential risk. Environ Monit Assess 185, 7961–7978 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3147-x

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